Barcelona attacker Lionel Messi gives Borussia Dortmund a footballing masterclass – in pictures

Argentine striker marks 700th appearance for Barca with wondershow in Champions League

Barcelona's Lionel Messi in action during their Champions League victory over Borussia Dortmund. Reuters

Lionel Messi goes for goal from a free kick. AP

Lionel Messi scores their second goal. Reuters

Lionel Messi with Dortmund's Axel Witsel. AP

Lionel Messi checks on his injured teammate Ousmane Dembele. AFP

Dortmund's Mats Hummels fails to stop Lionel Messi scoring. Reuters

Lionel Messi goes for goal. AP

Lionel Messi celebrates with Antoine Griezmann after the French attacker's goal. AFP

Lionel Messi celebrates with Antoine Griezmann after the French attacker's goal. AFP

Lionel Messi scoring. Reuters

Lionel Messi on the attack against Dortmund. AFP

Lionel Messi after scoring his side's second goal. AP

Dortmund defender Mats Hummels attempts to stop Lionel Messi. Reuters

Lionel Messi runs with the ball. AP

Lionel Messi and Lukasz Piszczek of Borussia Dortmund battle for posession. Getty

Barcelona's Lionel Messi, left, claims a penalty against Dortmund - but was booked for diving instead. AP

Lionel Messi attacks the Dortmund defence. AP

Lionel Messi is shown a yellow card for diving by referee Clement Turpin. Reuters

Lionel Messi under pressure from Axel Witsel. Getty

Lionel Messi was at his scintillating best for Barcelona as the Spanish side beat Borussia Dortmund 3-1 to reach the last 16 of the Champions League.

The Argentine attacker, who was playing his 700th game for Barca, scored one goal and set up Luis Suarez and Antoine Griezmann for the other two at Camp Nou.

The Catalan are now safely into the knockout stages after topping a tough Group F that also included Inter Milan and Slavia Prague.

But it was Messi who stole the show in Catalonia on Wednesday as he terrorised the German defence from start to finish with a trademark display of dribbling skills, incisive passing and quality finishing.

The only blot on the 32-year-old's copy book was a booking for diving when he went down under a challenge – or lack of one – from Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Burki.

It was Messi's deft pass that set up Uruguayan attacker Suarez for the opening goal just before the half-hour mark.

Messi himself made it two four minutes later, scoring his 613th goal for the club and 114th in the competition, with a left-foot finish into the bottom corner from eight yards. And it was his inch-perfect pass that supplied substitute Griezmann with their third and final goal in the 67th minute.

After the match, Barcelona manager  Ernesto Valverde hailed Messi as "incredible", while Dortmund defender Mats Hummels described him as "the best footballer I have ever seen. Period”.