Ferdinand, Gerrard slam ´sloppy´ Messi after Champions League rout

Rio Ferdinand and Steven Gerrard were critical of Lionel Messi’s performance in Barcelona’s humbling at Paris Saint-Germain as the duo slammed the star’s lack of effort in the French capital.

It was a night to forget for Messi and Co. after Barcelona suffered a humiliating 4-0 loss to PSG in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday.

Angel Di Maria’s brace on his birthday condemned LaLiga champions Barca to an embarrassing defeat in Paris, as five-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi struggled to have any influence on the contest.

And former Manchester United centre-back Ferdinand criticised Messi’s display at the Parc des Princes.

“His reaction there was poor,” Ferdinand told BT Sport. “All night he was sloppy.

“He looked dejected and bereft of ideas, [but] he’s human.”

Former Liverpool captain Gerrard echoed Ferdinand’s comments, adding: “He showed zero effort. No reaction all night.”

Barca will attempt to salvage the tie in the return fixture at Camp Nou on March 8.