DAVID Luiz labelled Lionel Messi “the best player ever” after the Barcelona star derailed Paris Saint-Germain’s bid to finish top of Champions League Group F on Wednesday night.
The French titleholders knew a point at Camp Nou would be enough for them to pip Luis Enrique’s men to first place and it seemed that is the least they would get when former Barca striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic put them in front after 15 minutes.
However, Messi equalised four minutes later before a Neymar rocket edged the hosts in front just before half-time. The third member of Barca’s formidable strike force, Luis Suarez, completed the scoring with 13 minutes to go.
“It’s the efficiency that made the difference,” Brazil international Luiz told Canal+. “They were better than us; they have three huge forwards. Messi is fantastic, the best player ever.
“Barca also have a smart head coach and other great players.”
The defeat means PSG will now face one of the group winners in the last 16.
Luiz said: “We will now think about the next step. The next game will be difficult. We’ll have to beat everybody to go all the way. In February we could play anyone.”
Luiz’s Brazil team-mate Lucas Moura, who volleyed wide with the goal at his mercy with the scores tied at one goal apiece, added: “It was a difficult game, it’s hard to play here. We missed a lot of chances but that’s football.”
