Messi scampered to the rescue of his team with a hat-trick at home to lowly Granada in La Liga, his first goal equaling Cesar Rodriguez's 60-year club scoring mark of 232 before two more in the second half gave him sole possession of the record.
His goals helped deliver a 5-3 victory that kept Barca in the hunt for a fourth consecutive league title, and set a Spanish record of 54 goals in all competitions in a single season with more than two months of the campaign remaining.
"At 24 years of age it is impossible to know what his impact on football will be," daily El Pais wrote.
"At the moment he is the best in the world, and he aspires to be the best of all time."
"On Twitter yesterday it was written that Messi is the only player better in real life than on 'Playstation,'" they wrote.
"With his goals, work, assists, playing football like one does in the playground, he is the number one."
The former Barca and Spain midfielder specifically built the team around Messi, and the forward's strike-rate rocketed from 38 in Guardiola's first year to 47 and to 53 last season.
Messi already has a Spanish record 54 goals this term with 10 league games, the King's Cup final and at least two more Champions League games left to play.
"It's a pleasure to be able to share a dressing room with him, I feel privileged," Spain defender Gerard Pique told the club's television station.
Two of Barca's new youth team recruits, Cristian Tello and Isaac Cuenca, joined in the praise.
"Leo is just how you see him on the pitch, a straightforward person, very friendly with his colleagues," said Tello.
Cuenca added: "We'll have to wait many years to see anyone match what Messi has done."
