ECHOES of DIEGO

Old Trafford has hosted in its grand history the game's greatest players. Di Stefano, Puskas, Eusebio, Platini, Maradona, Ronaldo and Zidane. However none of these esteemed talents have caused more gasps of both horror and delight than the modern day phenomenon, Lionel Messi.

Born in Rosario, Argentina, twenty year old Messi led a one-man campaign to grab Barcelona an equaliser and dump Manchester United out of the Champion's League. Time and again he exploded down the right hand touchline with the ball tied like magic to his bewildering left foot.

Red shirted players left befuddled, embarrassed and dumped in a heap. When Lionel Messi was in possession no plan existed, just prayers. United supporters dreaded Messi's every rampaging touch whilst travelling Catalan's hopes soared, their one salvation.

A team full of superstars, huge ego's, wealth beyond all desire, but the heart for a true fight existed only in Barca's bewitching number ten who terrified this incredibly fraught home crowd. Messi came again facing off Paul Scholes on the penalty area edge.

The Argentine sorcerer miraculously bypassed Scholes to go clear in the box, but alas for the visitors no Barca player was there for his final cross. But it is the manner in which Messi beat the United midfielder that lingered on with 76,000 people openly unsure of what they had just witnessed.

Comparisons can be treacherous but there is no doubt that when Lionel Messi looks in the mirror his great hero Diego Maradona stares right back. At Old Trafford that night where they have a nose for greatness, echoes of Diego resonated strongly.

Of course there can only ever be one Maradona, none more than Messi himself would argue the point. Though as he ripped to pieces at a whim Sir Alex Ferguson's much vaunted team it became clear 'El Diego's legacy was in safe hands.