It had to be James Milner , did n't it ? The man who already has social media history woke up this morning to find himself , once again , the unwitting subject of sniggers around the globe when a video of him being nutmegged by Lionel Messi before awkwardly tumbling on the Nou Camp went viral . In the stands Pep Guardiola put his hands to his face while up in the commentary box Gary Neville branded it 'barbaric ' . James Milner ( right ) attempts to shackle Lionel Messi during Manchester City 's European exit . Milner 's spoof Twitter account Boring James Milner has amassed over 389,000 followers . No matter that his team-mate Fernandinho befell the same fate moments earlier , it was funny because it was Milner . Milner whose clean cut , straight-talking Yorkshireness spawned the spoof @ boringmilner Twitter account ( last count 389,000 followers ) . Milner who we poke fun at because he is the antithesis of everything we say we loathe about footballers . No drunken late nights partying , sordid kiss-and-tells or dummy-spitting rows with managers to see here . Unfortunately , Milner will be remembered as being the victim of Messi 's genius at the Nou Camp . Dutch manager Ruud Gullit took to Twitter and added : 'OMG . Messi made Milner famous ' Bolton 's on-loan midfielder Barry Bannan wrote Messi 'ai n't human ' after his ridiculous skills . The inference behind the giggles was loud and clear - the dour Englishman was shown up by the silky-skilled Argentinian master and he really had no right to be on the same pitch . But who does ? Not many on the planet could have lived with Messi as he waltzed and weaved through the parting sky blue seas on Wednesday night . At times it appeared as though he was playing a different sport . Milner was not alone in being made to look foolish . Messi was in stunning form , producing an incredulous nutmeg that drew gasps from the football world . Stoke City goalkeeper Jack Butland echoed Gary Neville , tweeting 'watching the game with my legs closed ' The Argentina ace leaves Milner on the floor after passing the ball through his legs and skipping past him . He will , however , take all of this in his stride . The latest twist in a season which , for him , has been far from boring . Once again , he has played all over the park . Central midfield , full back , wing - when Manuel Pellegrini suffered a striker shortage he even put him up front . And the Chilean , in a rare dropping of the guard , was quick to praise his Mr Versatile in an interview before City 's 1-0 defeat . 'It would be very difficult to find a more complete player than [ James ] Milner , ’ Pellegrini told Sportsmail . ‘ There are players who are better technically . There are quicker players . 'There are players who head the ball better . But show me a player who does all the things that Milner does well and there isn ’ t one . ' Darts player Adrian 'Jackpot ' Lewis wrote on Twitter that 'Messi could nutmeg a mermaid ' Former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola witnessed Milner 's embarrassment from the stands . Queens Park Rangers striker Charlie Austin wrote that Guardiola 's reaction said it all about Messi 's skills . Milner drops to his knees as City fail to reach the Champions League last eight for the fourth year in a row . Messi inspired the Catalans to a 1-0 victory ( 3-1 on aggregate ) on Wednesday to send Barcelona through . In what could have been a testimonial dinner speech , the appreciative manager added : 'Whatever position I put him in he plays well : at full back – which is the only place he doesn ’ t like playing– attacking midfield , wide , or as a striker . I used him this season as a forward and the team was scoring three goals a game . ‘ You leave him on the bench and he is furious , but watch him during the game , encouraging and shouting . And in the next training session he kills it for 95 minutes . 'It ’ s very difficult to find another Milner – an intelligent player , with big balls and a massive heart. ’ Manuel Pellegrini insists that it would be difficult to find a more 'complete ' player than Milner . Milner has only started 15 Premier League games , making most of his appearances from the bench . All of the above counts for nothing when the Twittersphere goes into a mean meltdown . But it matters to others who are ready to pounce should City fail to reach an agreement to extend a deal that runs out in the summer . At home , Liverpool and Arsenal have registered an interest . At the turn of the year there were approaches from clubs abroad and offers of pre-contract agreements . None were signed because Milner , as always , wants to do the right thing and to him that is honouring the deal he signed at the Etihad Stadium . Pellegrini is keen to get a new deal done . But the man with big balls is playing hard ball - and he has every right to do so . The England international scores from a free-kick to earn a point against Hull in February . Milner celebrates a FA Cup brace against Sheffield Wednesday - he has scored five goals in his last 10 games . The 29-year-old is yet to agree a new deal at the Etihad with Arsenal and Liverpool interested . VIDEO Enrique hails 'special night ' for Barca .
Manchester ##ssi failed to reach Champions League semi - finals . James Milner was embarrassed by a comment from Barcelona 's Lionel Messi . Twitter reacted mercilessly by poking fun at the England players . ben Pellegrini insists it would be hard to find a more ' complete ' player . Milner is yet to sign a new deal - holder and Arsenal are interested . READ : Messi nutmegs James Milner ( and leaves him on his backside ) CLICK HERE for all the latest Manchester City news .