FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi of Argentina. Photo by AP.
Messi scored two goals and set up another as Barcelona rolled over Stuttgart 4-0 on Wednesday to reach the Champions League quarterfinals.
The Argentina forward has notched 31 goals in all competitions to continue the playing form that carried him to the FIFA Player of the Year award in 2009. His masterful performance makes Barcelona favorites to retain Europe's top trophy.
"It is kind of ridiculous what he's doing. He's amazing," Barcelona striker Henry said.
"I don't know if you can say he's playing better - he's playing. He's maintaining what he was doing, he's playing at a level where nobody from Barcelona wants him to stop."
Wayne Rooney's recent play for Manchester United - the England striker has scored 32 goals - threatened to dislodge Messi from the perch as the world's best player. But the 22-year-old Messi just seems to be getting better and better.
"I think there is no doubting Messi is the best player in the world," Stuttgart coach Christian Gross said. "His ability is incredible when you consider his age. I think it's fair to compare him to (Diego) Maradona."
"The flea" - Messi's nickname - has carried Barcelona of late. He had scored the club's last seven goals, including a hat-trick Sunday against Valencia, before Pedro Rodriguez netted in the 22nd minute Wednesday at the Camp Nou. That win at Valencia kept the defending Spanish champions level for the league lead with Real Madrid, who are out of the Champions League and in danger of seeing Messi guide their arch rival into the final at Madrid's own Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said Messi's status as a game-changer was growing and he could already be considered among the greats, especially in high pressure situations.
"Last year we won six titles. He was very decisive in those," Guardiola said. "Every great has a tendency to influence his team, like (Michael) Jordan with the (Chicago) Bulls. He's the best. We wouldn't trade him for anybody."
Messi scored in Barcelona's Champions League final win over Manchester United last season and scored the extra-time goal that secured the Club World Cup over Argentina's Estudiantes.
Messi looked close to scoring a second straight hat-trick against Stuttgart but was thwarted by some late stops by goalkeeper Jens Lehman. Gross played two defensive midfielders in a bid to hold Messi back, but that meant little in the 13th minute when Messi burst toward the area, suddenly firing a rising shot past three Stuttgart players and into the top corner of the goal beyond the outstretched Lehman.
On the hour mark, Messi spun quickly to send a low shot that rolled under Lehmann's hand.
"We started the game well but we couldn't stop Messi in the decisive moments," Gross said.
