Lionel Messi was the hero again as Barcelona convincingly defeated Stuttgart in the Champions League by four goals to nil.

Barcelona started the game with intent, knowing that they were on a knife edge after drawing 1-1 in the first leg of the 2nd round of the Champions League in Germany.

Stuttgart were also intent on scoring early and put Barcelona under great pressure from the very outset. However, the team defended well and it took just 13 minutes for the magical Messi to make his mark. He picked the ball up mid way inside the Stuttgart half. In typical fashion, Messi drove towards the goal, beat a defender and unleashed a rocket into the top corner of Jens Lehmann's goal. It was another brilliant goal from Messi, furthermore illustrating his credentials as the world's best player.

Barcelona were 2-0 up less than 10 minutes later. It was Messi again who penetrated the defense with a splitting pass that put Toure in the clear. Toure provided a perfectly timed cross which Pedro tapped in.

Barcelona scored their third on the hour mark. Messi picked the ball up outside the area, span off a Stuttgart defender, and unleashed a low strike into the corner of the goal. It was Messi's fourth of the competition and fifth goal in two games.

Bojan scored Barcelona's fourth with his first touch, following a great through ball from fellow substitute Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

It was a wonderful Barcelona win and once again an illustration to the world why Lionel Messi is the best player around.