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'Only one GOAT': Messi shows up Ronaldo in crazy Champions League drama

Lionel Messi has scored a brace as Barcelona strolled past Manchester United and into the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in four years, as Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal was not enough for Juventus against giant-killing Ajax.

Messi’s first-half goals – the second a gift from David de Gea – and Philippe Coutinho’s brilliant strike helped Barca to a 3-0 victory on Tuesday night and 4-0 overall over United.

The return of United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to the Nou Camp, where he scored a last-gasp 2-1 over Bayern Munich in the 1999 final, brought no new joy as the Red Devils were unable to produce another upset after ousting Paris Saint-Germain in the previous round.

Like in the first leg, Ronaldo headed Juve ahead but his dream of a sixth personal title was ended by goals from Donny van de Beek and Matthijs de Ligt as Ajax won 2-1 in Turin and 3-2 on aggregate.

Lionel Messi celebrates. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)
Lionel Messi celebrates. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)

The Dutch four-time champions have now ousted both 2018 finalists, after they stunned three-time reigning champions Real Madrid in the last 16.

Five-time winners Barca will face either Porto or Liverpool in the last four while Ajax are awaiting the winner of the Premier League duel between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.

The semi-finals are April 30/May 1 and May 7/8, with the June 1 final at Madrid’s Wanda Metropolitano stadium.

Barca survived an early scare when Marcus Rashford fired onto the top of the bar with less than a minute gone.

Cristiano Ronaldo couldn’t believe it. Image: Getty
Cristiano Ronaldo couldn’t believe it. Image: Getty

The hosts were on top in the 16th when United lost the ball in their half. Messi ran past two defenders and curled into the bottom left corner from just outside the area.

Four minutes later goalkeeper de Gea let Messi’s tame shot slip under his body and into the net for 2-0 and the Argentine’s 110th goal of the competition.

De Gea partly redeemed himself by stopping Sergi Roberto’s shot at the far post.

Messi almost had a hat-trick when his bicycle kick in the 64th flew just wide of the goal.

Matthijs de Ligt, Frenkie de Jong and Lasse Schone celebrate. (Photo by Erwin Spek/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Matthijs de Ligt, Frenkie de Jong and Lasse Schone celebrate. (Photo by Erwin Spek/Soccrates/Getty Images)

In-between Coutinho had found the top right corner from long range for Barca’s third.

Juve led at home in the 28th with their talisman Ronaldo nodding home off a corner kick for his 126th goal in the competition.

But Ajax were level six minutes later whe Van de Beek controlled what appeared to be an attempted shot and kept his cool to slot into the bottom right corner.

De Ligt’s thumping header off a corner in the 67th put the visitors ahead on the night and in the tie and they held on for a famous victory.

‘Only one GOAT’

Fans certainly saw the irony that Messi had thrived on a night where Ronaldo was ousted.