Jamie Carragher: 'Lionel Messi is the best player of all time'

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has declared Barcelona star Lionel Messi to be the greatest player of all time.

The Argentina international became the all-time leading scorer in Champions League history with two goals for Barca as they beat Bayern Munich 3-0 on Wednesday in the first leg of their semi-final tie.

Messi's tally now stands at 77 in Europe's elite competition, and former Liverpool defender Carragher believes that the South America is the best ever.

He told the Daily Mail: "It was a privilege to be in the Nou Camp on Wednesday and when Messi scored that magical second goal to flatten Bayern Munich, the reaction in the Sky studio was as frenzied as the Catalans who surrounded us; we were all out of our seats, shouting, screaming and acclaiming his genius.

"The job of facing the 27-year-old, who is now scoring 50 or 60 goals a season from his free role, however, is now the most difficult in football, as the unfortunate Jerome Boateng found out to his cost on Wednesday.

"Quite simply, Messi has been the greatest player in the best club team we have ever seen. How many years will we have to wait to see another like him?"

Messi has scored 53 goals this season.