MADRID (AP):

Lionel Messi may not have single-handedly guided Barcelona into today's Champions League final against Manchester United, but the diminutive Argentine's sublime talent and knack for spectacular goals sometimes make it seem that way.

Messi has scored 52 goals in 54 games this season to become the first Spanish league player to top the half-century mark, although he was soon joined by Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid.

buzz around defenders

But 'The Flea', as he is often referred to for his ability to buzz around defenders, has 11 Champions League goals to lead the tournament for a third straight season, as the Catalan club narrows in on a second European Cup over that same period.

Barcelona's current run of success - some consider this team to be among the best ever - owes, much to midfield playmakers Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta, plus inspirational captain Carles Puyol.

But there is no doubting the club's fortunes are most closely linked to the Argentina forward, who has come to define a generation much in the way that greats like Alfredo Di Stefano, Diego Maradona and Johan Cruyff did.

"Messi is not just a detail, he's the best player in the world and that's more than a detail," Barcelona and Argentina teammate Javier Mascherano said.

best player in the world

"We have the good fortune to have him on our side and let's hope we can all help him. That doesn't mean that, because he is the best player in the world, he is going to decide the game on his own, but it's an advantage."

Barcelona are playing to win their third European Cup in six seasons, and fourth overall since earning a first in 1992 at the old Wembley stadium.

Messi landed in Barcelona as a skinny 13-year-old but a growth treatment helped put him on his way to reaching the senior team by 2004, and he became more of a fixture in the next season at the age of 18. Messi has been a regular starter since 2006, when Barcelona won their second European Cup with a 2-1 victory over Arsenal in Paris.

Messi, who missed that final to injury, has scored 137 goals in 158 matches in three seasons under coach Pep Guardiola, and his total of 179 club goals leaves him trailing only Ladislao Kubala (194) and Cesar Rodriguez (235) on Barcelona's all-time scoring list, despite being just 23.

While Messi is a phenomenon, he just tries to keep it simple. "I'm going to go out and play like I always do," Messi said of today's final. "I hope I can score again (in the final). If not, I hope we still manage to lift the trophy."