Lionel Messi Named 'Best of All Time' by Pep Guardiola After Bayern vs Barcelona

Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola believes Lionel Messi "is the best player of all time."

Two excellent Messi performances led Barcelona beyond Bayern and into the Champions League final, winning 5-3 on aggregate. Pep, who was responsible for nurturing Messi's talent at the Camp Nou, believes he can only be compared to the greatest after facing him.

"He is the best player of all time," said Guardiola, reported by the Associated Press (h/t Daily Mail). "I compare him with Pele. I am so happy to see this football."

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Messi's terrific brace helped Barca to a 3-0 win in the opening leg, and despite Tuesday's 3-2 loss, they progressed with three goals to spare. The Argentinian set the tone in the first tie, scoring two excellent goals with 20 minutes left. The second—which saw Messi send Jerome Boateng to the floor with a quick turn before dinking over Manuel Neuer—will be spoken about for years to come.

Copa90 tweeted this moment:

"

This is the second Messi goal. Goosebumps when this one went in... https://t.co/NdM247GnIw #Messi #FCBFCB

— Copa90 (@Copa90) May 6, 2015"

Although he didn't score on Tuesday, Messi's passing and movement kept Barca's front three dangerous, helping Neymar to grab the two goals needed to relax. He remains the tournament's top scorer with 10 goals, and with two weeks remaining of La Liga, he has already hit the 40-goal mark, per WhoScored.com.

Matthias Schrader/Associated Press

Guardiola's comments certainly contrast his words after the first leg, reported by ESPN FC: "I will not say what I think of Messi. They are not just Leo, Barca are a very good team." B/R UK's Sam Tighe looked at the best and worst players of the second leg:

Former Barcelona striker Gary Lineker has made his thoughts known on Messi over the past two European matches:

Sky Sports highlighted how Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez continue to rack up the goals between them:

Kerstin Joensson/Associated Press

Barcelona will face either Real Madrid or Juventus in the Berlin final. Right now, Luis Enrique's team won't care who progresses after Wednesday's second leg, as their football can beat anyone. Madrid have a 2-1 deficit to overturn at the Bernabeu and can expect to face a stern Italian defence.

It is entirely possible Messi and his team-mates will stop Madrid from becoming the first team to successfully defend the Champions League crown. After last season's injury problems, there's no doubt Messi's overall play has moved up a notch this year. The goals never leave his game, but there's an increased sharpness and understanding with his colleagues this year.

Guardiola was powerless to stop this and, like so many before him, could do nothing but applaud after being undone by his quality.