Rio Ferdinand says he was left feeling "blessed" after witnessing Lionel Messi's stunning individual performance against Liverpool.
The Argentinian magician followed up Luis Suarez's opener with a second-half brace and the goal which effectively killed off Liverpool left spectators, including Jurgen Klopp, in awe.
Messi struck a sensational free-kick from 30 yards out with just eight minutes remaining into the top corner, leaving Liverpool stopper Alisson with no chance of saving it.
BT Sport pundit Ferdinand, watching the game from the studio, hailed the 31-year-old's performance to carry his side to yet another victory.
"Lionel Messi's a phenomenal player. He's got everything. He's one of the best ever, if not the best," Ferdinand said.
"I'm delighted to be here, I feel blessed. This is the stuff I can tell my kids about. He can decide a game as and when he chooses.
"The way he appreciates team-mates, when he's running at high speed, his distribution, his timing of the passes, his decision-making... it's all phenomenal.
Liverpool were very much in the tie at 1-0 and only a brilliant double save from Marc Andre ter Stegen denied the Reds an equaliser.
In Pictures | Barcelona vs Liverpool, Champions League | 01/05/2019
Later in the game, Klopp's side missed a golden double chance when Roberto Firmino's shot was cleared off the line and Mohamed Salah hit the post on the rebound.
But former Manchester United defender Ferdinand says when Messi decided to change the game, it was only a question of when he would score.
"Once again, that man on your screen there has decided 'I will take this game over and take the game off the opposing team,'" he added.
"The free-kick was unbelievable. The keeper could maybe do better than he did but Messi's that good. He can decide a game of this level, at the top level, as and when he decides.
"Liverpool, as much as you can talk about Barcelona, they've missed big chances in this game."
The Reds now face a mammoth task to reach a second successive Champions League final, trailing 3-0 ahead of the second leg at Anfield on May 7.
