Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has hailed Lionel Messi after the Argentine star scored his 100th goal in European club competitions against Olympiacos.
Messi curled home a free-kick as Barcelona beat the Greek side 3-1 at the Nou Camp despite the sending off of defender Gerard Pique for deliberate handball.
It was the 100th European goal Messi has scored, with 97 coming in the Champions League and three in the European Super Cup. It has taken him 122 games to reach the landmark.
Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring for Barcelona in their 3-1 win over Olympiacos
The goal was Messi’s 100th in European club competition, the landmark coming in 122 games
And Bartomeu was full of praise for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner. ‘I would give him all the prizes in world football. No-one can compete,’ he said on Barca TV.
‘He has created an era and he still remains at this sublime level.’
Barcelona’s win preserved their 100 per cent record and top spot in Group D, three points ahead of Juventus.
They took the lead when Dimitris Nikolaou put through his own net, Messi scored the second with a lovely free-kick and Lucas Digne added a third after the break.
The Argentine star celebrates with Luis Suarez after scoring against Olympiacos
The goal on Wednesday night came from a perfectly-executed free-kick on 61 minutes
The ball curled around the Olympiacos wall and their keeper couldn’t keep it out
But the story might have been different after Pique was dismissed for a second yellow after handling the ball into the net just before half-time.
Bartomeu also thanked coach Ernesto Valverde for Barcelona’s positive start to the season.
He said: ‘We already knew the coach he was. He is intelligent, he manages matches well. He has given the reason to all of us who have trusted him.
‘He has fallen in love with the Camp Nou and the fans. It has given us peace of mind.’
Barca remain unbeaten in La Liga and have a four-point lead over second-placed Valencia. They host Malaga on Saturday evening.