Jose Mourinho gives Barcelona star new nickname

Jose Mourinho hasn't always been the Catalan legend’s biggest fan - but he hailed him as 'absolutely incredible'

Jose Mourinho coined a new nickname for Lionel Messi after his Champions League heroics performance: ‘The God of Football’.

After taking over as Chelsea boss in 2004, Mourinho famously called himself the 'Special One' - and now he has elevated Messi to similarly exalted heights.

Mourinho, without mincing words, hailed the 'absolutely incredible' Argentina international after he scored a brace in Barcelona's 3-0 thumping of Liverpool in their first leg of Champions League semi-final.

After Luis Suarez put Barcelona in front against his former club, Messi made it 2-0 from a rebound before firing in a stunning free-kick to give Liverpool a seemingly insurmountable task in next Tuesday's second leg at Anfield.

The scoreline did not reflect how amazing Liverpool were on that night- whose ball possession stat of 53% is much more than most teams ever manage at Camp Nou.

Mourinho was of the opinion that the brilliance of Barcelona's players made the difference- and of Messi in particular - that swung the result so severely.

"Liverpool was brave in the approach," Mourinho said. "I don't think in the past 20 years many teams in the Champions League beat Barcelona in ball possession in the Champions League.”

"God of Football made it completely different. Of course (Barca) have a good team, phenomenal players, but that player is absolutely incredible.”

Special One' once faced the 'God of Football' in the Champions League during the 2005/06 campaign, when Messi was still a teenager.

Messi had a brilliant performance in Barcelona's 2-1 win over Mourinho's Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. But Mourinho was infuriated by Messi's role in Asier del Horno’s controversial red card.

Del Horno clattered into Messi, who consequently rolled around on the ground several times.

Mourinho had accused Messi of play-acting, saying: "How do you say cheating in Catalan?

"Can Messi be suspended for acting? Barcelona is a cultural city with many great theatres and this boy has learned very well. He's learned play-acting."

Messi equally responded by telling reporters: "I don't do theatre. I don't attach any importance to that because we know what he's like, that he likes talking, he likes to say things and heat up the atmosphere."

On Suarez's breaking the deadlock, Mourinho said: "Luis Suarez's movement (for the first goal) is phenomenal. One metre here, and I bring the defender with me, at least mentally because the defender thinks I'm going in that direction and now I'm going to attack the space in front. And goodbye."