Messi ‘in airport confrontation with furious Barca fans’ after Champions League exit in Liverpool

Barcelona star Lionel Messi was involved in a heated exchange with furious Barcelona fans as the striker prepared to fly out of Liverpool after his team’s stunning UEFA Champions League semi-final exit, according to reports.

Liverpool incredibly overturned a 3-0 first-leg deficit to dump Messi and Barcelona out of the Champions League – the second time in successive seasons that the Catalan giants have been on the wrong end of a stirring fight-back.

READ MORE: Liverpool stage comeback for the ages to beat Barcelona and reach Champions League final

While Messi was the star of the first leg at Camp Nou, he was largely a peripheral figure as Liverpool bulldozed Barca 4-0 on a famous night at Anfield.

According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Messi faced off against angry Barca fans at Liverpool’s John Lennon airport as they prepared to jet out of England.

Messi was reportedly held back at the stadium for routine doping checks, but arrived at the airport at around midnight local time, along with his personal assistant Pepe Costa.

It was then that he was reportedly the target of criticism from some fans angered by the defeat, which drew a response from Messi.

Costa stepped in to quell tensions, while another group of Barca fans are said to have applauded their captain to offer support.

While Barcelona wrapped up La Liga in some style this year, they have again faltered on Europe’s biggest stage, where they last tasted victory in 2015.

Last season they suffered a 3-0 defeat in the quarter-final second leg at Roma, having won the first leg 4-1.

Last night they were left stunned by a rampant Liverpool, who won thanks to doubles from Divock Origi and Georginio Wijnaldum.

Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde said the English club had “rolled over” his team.