A FORMER Premier League keeper left Lionel Messi stunned with his performance in the MLS on Friday night.
Eastern Conference champions Inter Miami claimed a 2-1 win over Atlanta United in the first of a three-match play-off series.
Lionel Messi was thwarted a number of times by the veteran keeperAFP
The Argentine icon could not believe some of the savesAFP
Yet Messi‘s all-star side could have had a host more goals had it not been for Atlanta’s 40-year-old shot-stopper.
He made an astonishing NINE saves in the match and was compared by one social media user to Italy legend Gianluigi Buffon.
The display also included him thwarting Messi in a one-on-one situation with a tackle 30 YARDS from his goal.
The keeper in question was ex-Aston Villa man Brad Guzan.
Guzan, who has 64 caps for USA, spent eight years at Villa and made 171 appearances.
However, he was never particularly rated by English football fans and left to return to America in 2017 after a short spell at Middlesbrough.
Yet he looked better than ever in the MLS on Friday night – six weeks after his 40th birthday.
And even Messi looked stunned by some of the stops he was making.
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Reacting to Guzan’s performance, one fan said: “Incredible performance by the keeper. I’ll be honest, I felt Messi needed to get Guzan’s shirt .”
Another added: “Brad Guzan just casually had a Prime Buffon performance at 40 years of age… GOODNESS!”
A third replied: “Brad Guzan had nine saves tonight, almost all of them un-routine. He also won a one-v-one tackle against Messi 30 yards off his line.
“He has been amazing this year, and again tonight.”
While a fourth responded: “He really should get a national team call up for a final match.”
Inter Miami still won the game thanks to goals from Barcelona legends Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba.
A victory in Atlanta on Saturday, November 2 would book their place in the Conference semi-finals – where they will play Orlando City or Charlotte.
Guzan spent eight years at Aston Villa and played 171 times for the clubPA:Empics Sport