Joe Hart: Lionel Messi will be honoured as the best footballer of all time

Joe Hart: Lionel Messi will be honoured as the best footballer of all time

Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart put in a brilliant performance against Barcelona at Camp Nou, but despite keeping Lionel Messi at bay, says the Argentine is "potentially the best footballer in history". 

Hart said he felt "happy" to have had the opportunity to face him. 

"He's an absolutely extraordinary footballer and I'm convinced that in the next few years, when Messi will be honoured as the best of all time, it will be a great memory for me," said Hart, admitting he was "sad" after being knocked out of the Champions League. 

The 27-year-old English stopper saved a Messi penalty in the first leg, but doesn't take the credit for it. 

"The only reason he missed is because he probably didn't take it as well as he wanted to," Hart explained. "I don't think it was down to me."

However, Sergio Aguero is a better finisher than Messi, in Hart's book. 

"From working with him on a daily basis and from what I've seen this season, Aguero just knows how to score," said the keeper. 

"In training he particularly excites you most days but he's also got that ability on the day to do it. We've got a good team, but a long clearance could turn into a goal because he's got that ability to take it round five people and score.

"It's a great thing to have. Sergio is a very natural player and in a situation one-on-one there is nothing complicated about it. He takes that option to score. Messi is absolutely awesome, he is a phenomenal player, but I'm backing Sergio."