Mesmerising Messi sparks Barcelona triumph over United

Lionel Messi mesmerised Manchester United into submission on Saturday as his dazzling Barcelona team claimed an emphatic 3-1 win in the Champions League final to bag their third European crown in six seasons.

Barcelona comprehensively outplayed United throughout and took a deserved lead in the 27th minute when Pedro fired home after a brilliant pass from his captain Xavi.

Though Wayne Rooney equalised just seven minutes later on a rare United counter-attack, Barcelona underlined their supremacy in the second half, Messi firing home a sizzler in the 54th minute and then setting up David Villa for the third in the 69th after a typical jinking run into the box.

Messi amply lived up to his billing as the world's best player and Barcelona justified the widespread plaudits claiming them as one of the greatest club teams Europe has ever seen.