Lionel Messi hopes Barcelona front

Lionel Messi hopes Barcelona front three get Ballon d'Or recognition after extraordinary Roma rout

On a night when Lionel Messi had been pure Messi, what followed was probably the most Cristiano Ronaldo thing that Messi has ever done.

After a team performance of such style, of such ludicrous quality, Messi - albeit prompted by questioning - turned his attention to the Ballon d'Or.

"I hope the podium can be Luis Suarez, Neymar and I," he said.

But while thoughts turning to the Zurich gala was surprising, Messi elevating his Barcelona teammates above all others was not.

On a night when this front three combined for a host of extraordinary goals, a moment in the 77th minute said more about them than Messi's exquisite dink for the second goal or Suarez's exocet volley shortly after ever could.

Neymar, arguably the planet's best player this season, had been curiously deprived of a goal in an otherwise outstanding performance when he was downed by a foul in the box.

Both on a hat-trick, the question was whether the returning Lionel Messi or Luis Suarez would step up. Instead they both deferred to Neymar, determined to reward the Brazilian for another stellar display by handing him a goal.

In a comical twist he had his spot kick saved, Adriano thumping home the rebound, but the reaction was smiles all round. Everyone knew what this gesture meant, and everyone knows that the much-vaunted Real Madrid frontline would never do something like that.

"We're doing things well," Messi said, "but there's a long time to go.

"There are some important things coming up like the Club World Cup, and I hope we can maintain this level."

On last night's evidence that seems impossible. A display of such cohesion, of a near-psychic connect between three of the world's most talented footballers, that while watching you felt fortunate to be witnessing this art.

Luis Enrique seems a bit more realistic about being able to keep up the calibre of performance we've seen this week.

"We have played two games at a very high level, and we are obviously in a good moment," he said.

"But for sure we can still improve in many things. In a sport as complex as football, where there are so many players, there are always things to improve. We must take advantage of this sweet moment, and stretch it out as long as possible."