Messi's Barcelona beat United 3-1 in final

WEMBLEY, England (AP):

Barcelona and Lionel Messi put their places among football's all-time greats beyond all doubt yesterday, as the Argentina striker scored one goal and created another in a mesmerising 3-1 Champions League final win over Manchester United.

Barcelona justified their status as overwhelming favourites by dominating possession with trademark one-touch passing. But with Wayne Rooney having equalised Pedro Rodriguez's first-half opener, the Spanish champions could not force the crucial breakthrough until the Argentina striker conjured a 54th-minute solo strike from the edge of the area.

There seemed to be no space as Messi was tracked by fullback Patrice Evra, but the two-time world player of the year spotted a gap between the central defenders and hit a shot down the middle, beating goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar for pace.

Messi followed his 53rd goal of a remarkable season with a feint and run that eventually led to David Villa receiving possession on the edge of the area, from where the Spain striker curled a shot into the top corner.

A third Champions League title in six seasons and fourth overall means that only Liverpool, AC Milan and fierce rivals Real Madrid have won more European Cups than Barcelona's four.

"I feel privileged," Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said. "You always want to win, but the way we have won is what I am most proud of. This is the way we want to play football.

"Lionel is the best player I have seen and probably the best I will ever see."

No team has dominated Europe so comprehensively since Madrid's three titles in five seasons from 1998-2002; and even that spell was punctuated by barren seasons.

Guardiola has now won 10 titles - including two European Cups - in his three years in charge of the club he served as a player for 17 years.

Alex Ferguson, the most decorated manager in English football history, has needed 25 years with United to win the same number of Champions League titles.

"They do mesmerise you with their passing and we never really did control Messi," Ferguson said. "But many people have said that.

"In my time as manager, it's the best team I've faced."

With Pedro scoring Barcelona's opening goal midway through the first half from an imaginative through ball from stand-in captain Xavi Hernandez, the win was as comprehensive as their 2-0 victory over United in the 2009 final in Rome.

"When Rome finished, I thought we had played a good game, but when I looked at it again I wasn't that impressed," Guardiola said. "But it has served its purpose.

"I think we played much better than the game two years ago.

Good gestures

The performance was so comfortable that Guardiola was able to bring on regular captain Carles Puyol for the last few moments, giving the injury-hit defender the chance to play a part in a memorable triumph.

But in a gesture symbolising Barcelona's team ethic, Puyol handed the armband over to Eric Abidal - whose place in the team had been in doubt after he had surgery this season to remove a liver tumour - and the France defender lifted the famous trophy.

"Players are human beings," Guardiola said. "Carles has made a great gesture and it has made us stronger."

United improved upon their 2009 final performance in Rome and did equalise in the 34th through Rooney, but could do little to disrupt Europe's dominant footballing force.

Xavi orchestrated play from in front of Sergio Busquets, while Andres Iniesta and Messi tormented United with the pinpoint accuracy of their passing.

For half an hour, the match followed the same pattern as the 2009 final. United unsettled Barcelona with constant pressure on the man in possession and dominated the first 10 minutes before the Spanish league champions burst into life.

Barcelona pushed the United players deep into their own half and kept them there, with Xavi, Villa, Iniesta and Messi finding space where none seemed to exist.