Who needs Messi? 17yo Fati strike sends Inter crashing out of UCL with THREE disallowed goals

A wonder strike from 17-year-old wonder kid Ansu Fati confirmed Inter Milan's exit from the UEFA Champions League’s group of death as a Messi-less Barca won 2-1 at San Siro where Inter also had a hat-trick of goals chalked off.

The goal also made Fati the youngest ever player to score in the Champions League, aged 17 years and 40 days. 

Barcelona, who had already qualified for the knockout stages, were without Ballon d'Or winner for the fixture in Italy, and instead gave European debuts to many of the side's starlets.

One of them were Carles Perez, who bagged the opener on 23 minutes for the Catalan side to open the scoring.

Romelu Lukaku, after having an earlier goal ruled out for offside, leveled the scoring legitimately right before half time, and the home side had their chance to mount a comeback in the second 45 minutes. And that they did, having two more goals chalked off, correctly, both again for offside.

Barca granted a few minutes to 17-year-old Ansu Fati, who came on as a substitute in the 85th minute, and who, like  Perez, also took his chance to shine in the absence of the world's best player.

The Guinea-Bissau-born  played a beautiful 1-2 on the edge of the area before smashing home on 86 minutes.

It was game, set and match with Inter needing two and looking too forlorn to mount a late attack, and Barca duly held on for the win.

Fati claimed another piece of history with the goal, which added to his record of becoming the youngest player to feature in the tournament at the age of 16 earlier this year.

Miguel MEDINA / AFP

Inter exited at the group stage of the tournament for the second season running, they have Europa League football to look forward to.

In the game's other match, Borussia Dortmund beat Slavia Prague 2-1 in Germany, who went through in second place behind last season's semi-finalists.