Messi, Barcelona dominate friendly vs. MLS newcomer Seattle

SEATTLE — Yes, Seattle, there is a soccer team in this world with brighter-colored jerseys than Sounders FC's rave green. And that team put on a skills clinic for a full house at Qwest Field, a national TV audience and the home side, which had no answer for perhaps the best soccer player in the world.

FC Barcelona, clad in its pinkish-orange road jerseys that made Seattle's shirts look dull in comparison, got a pair of scintillating goals from striker Lionel Messi in its 4-0 win over Sounders FC Wednesday night in a friendly.

Messi's play had Sounders FC players and coach Sigi Schmid calling him the world's best player following the game.

"He can do everything," Seattle defender Leonardo Gonzalez said.

So can the club, as witnessed Wednesday.

Barcelona, the defending European club and Spanish league champion, entertained the crowd of 66,848, the largest to ever see a soccer match in Seattle.

FCB's passing was nearly flawless. It had chance after chance from deep inside the goal area in front of Sounders FC goalkeeper Kasey Keller, whose diving saves in the first half kept Sounders FC from being blown out early, and in the second half with Terry Boss in goal. It made only one glaring error, a mistake that turned out to be Sounders FC's best chance at a goal.

In the 19th minute, Barcelona goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto's goal kick was badly hit, rolling directly to Seattle midfielder Freddie Ljungberg. The former English Premier League star had a wide-open shot on goal but it bounced wide left.

Then Barcelona struck only a couple of minutes later. Messi, a diminutive but quick and skillful player from Argentina, gathered in a pass and fired a shot from 24 yards away from the goal at the top of the arc. The blast beat Keller to give the visitors the lead.

"You see him on TV. I see him every day. He is the best in the world not only for his youth, but also for his ability to dominate all aspects of the game," Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola said.

Barcelona was far from done. In the 41st minute, it put together a pair of passes from Thierry Henry and Xavi, the last of which was a long ball to Messi to the left of Keller. Messi got a shot past his defender and through Keller's legs for Barcelona's second goal.

"You're hoping he hits you with the ball," Keller said.

"He has the ability to make something out of nothing," Schmid said.