Superlatives run dry as Messi scores four

There was a brief moment last night that summed up how we all, as football fans felt. Once the final whistle had gone, the camera followed man of the match Lionel Messi around the pitch as he congratulated his team mates on securing their place in the Champions League semi final. Back in the gantry, Sky Sports anchor Richard Keys had the job of filling the airwaves until the Spanish television director decided enough was enough and to cease the on field filming. This is Key's job, his livelihood. He has done this 1000 times and will do it 1000 more. However for the first time, he couldnt do what for years has become second nature to him. He ran out of cliches, ran out of adjectives and ran out of superlatives. He was lost for words. We all were.

In sportsman's careers, there always seems to be a defining moment. A coathanger performance that you can hook all the evidence on when proving how good they really were. With Jonny Wilkinson, it was that night and that kick in Sydney. For Roger Federer it will be the 15th Grand Slam at Wimbledon while for Steven Gerrard it will be that thunderous half volley against Olympiakos in the Champions League to ensure they progressed to the next round. Now add Lionel Messi and last night's 4 goal haul to that list.

Here's the thing...we knew he was good. We knew he was the best player in the world at the present moment but no-one knew, in fact, no-one believed that he or any player could put in a performance like that. It was a performance that is hard to write about because words don't it justice. After Arsenal took a surpising lead, Messi responded within two minutes. A stunning strike from out of nothing. His second came from breathaking build up play while his third was so audacious that even after they showed the reply, you still didnt believe he would do it. It took three replays to make me a believer. Then as the fourth went in those in the Nou Camp and the millions watching world wide went into a frenzy. We were witnessing one of 'those' moments. Some will be able to say they were there while some will only be able to say they watched it. If you are not either of those, get busy and find a way to watch it as it is very possible that something like that will never happen again.