Sign up to the Independent's betting newsletter for the latest tips and offers Sign up to the Independent's betting newsletter
Lionel Messi refused to take all the credit despite having a decisive say in Barcelona 's Champions League elimination of Chelsea f.c.
A typically majestic performance saw Messi give Barca a lead in the third minute, before he set up Ousmane Dembele's second after 20 minutes and then struck a third to end any hopes of Chelsea rallying in a 3-0 win which secured a 4-1 last-16 aggregate success.
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte said Messi was the difference and a once in 50 years player but the man himself insisted it was more a collective success.
Barcelona vs Chelsea player ratingsShow all 22 1 /22Barcelona vs Chelsea player ratings Barcelona vs Chelsea player ratings Ter Stegen – 7 Made a smart stop from Willian in the first half but was relieved to see Marcos Alonso’s free-kick clatter against the post just before the interval.
Getty
Barcelona vs Chelsea player ratings Roberto – 7 Marshalled Eden Hazard well on an off-night for Chelsea’s Belgian winger.
Getty
Barcelona vs Chelsea player ratings Pique – 7 Didn’t seem to enjoy his physical battle with Olivier Giroud but got the job done at the back for the hosts.
Getty
Barcelona vs Chelsea player ratings Umtiti – 8 A solid defensive display by the Frenchman.
Getty
Barcelona vs Chelsea player ratings Alba – 7 Rarely tested as most of Chelsea’s attacks went down the middle.
Getty
Barcelona vs Chelsea player ratings Busquets – 7 Did his usual job at the base of Barcelona’s midfield before an injury forced him off after an hour.
Getty
Barcelona vs Chelsea player ratings Rakitic – 7 Kept things ticking over in midfield alongside Busquets and Iniesta.
Getty
Barcelona vs Chelsea player ratings Iniesta – 6 Didn’t contribute too much before being substituted just before the hour-mark.
Getty
Barcelona vs Chelsea player ratings Dembele – 8 Produced an unerring finish to double Barcelona’s lead after a superb run by Messi.
Getty
Barcelona vs Chelsea player ratings Messi – 10 Barcelona’s magician notched two goals and an assist to seal Barcelona’s place in the last eight.
Getty
Barcelona vs Chelsea player ratings Suarez – 8 Assisted both of Messi’s goals.
Getty
Barcelona vs Chelsea player ratings Courtois – 5 Nut-megged twice by Messi but was helpless to keep Dembele’s thunderous strike out.
Getty
Barcelona vs Chelsea player ratings Moses – 5 Messi glided by him before rifling home Barca’s third goal of the night.
Getty
Barcelona vs Chelsea player ratings Azpilicueta – 6 Messi skipped past him in the build-up to Barcelona’s second and third goals.
Getty
Barcelona vs Chelsea player ratings Christensen – 6 Went unnoticed in the Chelsea backline. Not sure if that’s a good thing or not.
Getty
Barcelona vs Chelsea player ratings Rudiger – 5 Lucky to get away without a booking after hacking Messi down in the first half.
Getty
Barcelona vs Chelsea player ratings Alonso – 7 Almost got Chelsea back in the game shortly before half-time but the Spaniard saw his free-kick crash against the post.
Getty
Barcelona vs Chelsea player ratings Willian – 8 As has been the case in a fair few games recently, the Brazilian was Chelsea’s most dangerous attacker by some distance.
Getty
Barcelona vs Chelsea player ratings Fabregas – 5 Ineffective on his first Camp Nou outing since leaving Barcelona in 2014.
Getty
Barcelona vs Chelsea player ratings Kante – 6 Chelsea are far better with him than without him but even he was helpless to prevent the Blues from exiting the competition.
Getty
Barcelona vs Chelsea player ratings Hazard – 6 Was bright for the visitors in the first 15 minutes but faded after Barcelona’s second goal.
Getty
Barcelona vs Chelsea player ratings Giroud – 5 Barely involved. Failed to make the most of this big opportunity.
Getty
"It was a really tough game. But we played strong as a team," he said. "Scoring so early meant we could control the game, but we didn't feel we had sentenced the tie until we got our third goal.
"Until then, we had to fight hard and suffer to achieve a very important qualification for the team."
Andres Iniesta returned from a hamstring injury to start for Barcelona but the 33-year-old could leave the Nou Camp at the end of the season.
Whether he stays or departs, Iniesta warned Barca must be at their best for him to win a fifth Champions League title.
"The Champions League is complicated, a bad day leaves you out. We have a team and we want to play," he said.
Conte believed Messi was the difference in the tie (AFP/Getty Images) Iniesta wishes to avoid a domestic rival in the last eight, with Sevilla and Real Madrid also in Friday's draw.
"I do not want a Spanish team, because we know each other too much," he added.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies