If comparisons are odious, then Aiden McGeady must surely dread the routine of picking up his morning newspaper. Barely a day passes, after all, without Celtic's extravagantly gifted young winger being likened to another of the beautiful game's great entertainers on Scotland's back pages.

It was McGeady's former manager, Martin O'Neill, who kicked off the craze by mentioning the then 18-year-old in the same breath as Ronaldinho after he scored on his debut, and such is the joy, individuality and originality with which the young Glaswegian continues to play that Celtic fans have taken to nicknaming him 'Aideninho' and 'The Green Garrincha'. Team-mate Artur Boruc also noted publicly the similarities between the 21-year-old and Cristiano Ronaldo, while insisting that McGeady's potential is greater, and yet perhaps the most humbling compliment of all - at Celtic Park at least - is that he has been touted as the natural heir to the late, great Jimmy Johnstone.

The days when Johnstone, Celtic's greatest-ever player, jinked his way through Europe's best defences to inspire this Scottish club to European Cup glory are long gone of course, but for the second season in succession, the Bhoys do find themselves in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League, facing a Barcelona side genuinely wary of their hosts' mercurial and largely unheralded star.

Lionel Messi yesterday paid his own accolade, saying: "I really like the way McGeady plays football. He is a natural talent who can create a brilliant piece of play in the blink of an eye." This came in the wake of Catalan sportspaper El Mundo Deportivo publishing a glowing tribute, which lauded the Republic of Ireland international as "a blond version of Messi and Diego Maradona", adding that a lack of media exposure is all that currently prevents him from achieving the same fame and renown enjoyed by Messi and his Argentinian predecessor.

Read On

Barcelona hoping for more good luck when it faces Celtic in Champions League since they are fielding Samuel Eto', Thierry Henry, Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho together after injuries and international commitments prevented the quartet from playing together so far this season.

FORMER Celtic striker George McCluskey has backed Aiden McGeady to torment Barcelona – after watching him do the same to Brazil.

Should Lionel Messi pick up a yellow card tonight, he would miss the return leg, so come on McGeady wind him up with your magic.