Lionel Messi calls Joe Hart a 'phenomenon' after Barcelona win

Manchester City keeper Joe Hart thwarts Barcelona's Lionel Messi

Argentine star Lionel Messi called Joe Hart a "phenomenon" after Barcelona's 1-0 win knocked Manchester City out of the Champions League.

The margin of victory would have been far bigger had it not been for Hart's goalkeeping heroics at the Nou Camp.

"He saved everything," said Messi. "We had a lot of clear chances but the keeper had a brilliant game.

"We can only congratulate him, but the important thing is we achieved our objective to get through."

Hart made 10 saves as Ivan Rakitic's solitary strike on 31 minutes, from a crossfield pass played by Messi, sealed a 3-1 aggregate triumph to reach the quarter-finals.

The 27-year-old England international also saved a penalty from Messi in the first leg at Etihad Stadium.

"I had a lot to do, but I wanted it to count," said Hart.

"Make no bones about it, Barcelona were the better team in both legs, but we hung on in there, defended and made saves, and made tackles."

Former Barcelona striker Gary Lineker and current Barca boss Luis Enrique also lauded Hart.

"But for a truly astonishing display of goalkeeping from Joe Hart, our Premier League champions would be going home humiliated," tweeted Lineker.

Enrique added: "The score could have been a rout. Hart was incredible.

"We had a lot of chances, which is not normal in this type of game. We deserved to win by a bigger goal difference."

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Hart was only beaten when Ivan Rakitic scored on 31 minutes