5 times the game was changed by a swing of Messi's left foot

#2 Leo Messi walked onto the pitch at the Estadio Vicente Calderon in the second half and sealed all three points for Barcelona against Atletico

"Not too many minutes for Messi, but a goal for Lionel Messi"

Atletico Madrid have come up against the Argentine on numerous occasions, and like most other teams in the league, have failed to formulate an approach to foil the greatest player on the planet.

We had a range of choices to choose from - of Messi toying with Atletico - but we've decided to go with the match two season ago, when Atletico had managed to get back into the game by levelling up the score-line (deservedly) via Fernando Torres.

Barca's main man, Messi wasn't included in the starting line-up (Luis Enrique the culprit) and was an un-assuming figure on the bench for most of the match, till the team from Madrid evened it up in the second half.

The home crowd went ballistic but surprisingly the theatrics of their manager was nowhere to be seen.

Reporter : "Why didn't you celebrate the Torres goal?"

Diego Simeone : "Because I saw Messi warm up.."

As it turned out Diego Simeone, who had an eye on Messi warming up, knew better than those present in the stands. The sense of certainty that accompanies the magician isn't only felt by the Not camp faithful, but by the rest of the world as well. The script was written for the talent of a generation to embody. And so he did.

A matter of minutes on the pitch, the diminutive Argentine provided a bit of teeth to the Barcelona attack, as Luis Suarez laid off a first time ball to the number 10 who didn't waste any time bothering with a touch, and with the outside of his left boot caressed the ball into the back of the net.

All three points travelled with the Catalans back to the Camp Nou and they had their unimaginably gifted goal-scorer to thank for it. Something the world of football is similarly thankful for.