Messi has power to decide final

Barcelona striker Lionel Messi has been head, shoulders and torso above Europe's other strikers in the Champions League this year. Check out the stats which suggest Messi has the power to decide Saturday's final between Barcelona and Manchester United at Wembley.

1. Lionel Messi has scored the most goals in this year’s competition, netting the ball 11 times.

2. United's most prolific Champions League scorer this season is Javier Hernandez of Mexico, with 4 goals. Rooney is next with 3 goals, alongside teammate Anderson.

3. Messi has also had the most shots on target in the Champions League, with 31 attempts, well ahead of Real's prima donna Cristiano Ronaldo (24), Inter's Samuel Eto'o (16) and Rooney (15).

4. The player to shoot wide of target the most times is Ronaldo, with 29 clear misses, followed by Inter's Dutch star Wesley Sneijder (18) and Messi (16). Rooney is further down the list on 10.

5. Messi is the most fouled player in the tournament, being targeted illegally on 30 occasions. No.2 on this list is Ronaldo (26), followed by Sneijder (25).

More Champions League facts:

»- Barcelona have enjoyed the most ball possession in the Champions League this season, at 62%; United are second on 58%.

»- Barca have won 3 out of their 5 previous European Cup final appearances; Man United 3 out 4.

»- Manchester United were unbeaten when they won the trophy in 2008, as were Barcelona in 2006. Both teams are unbeaten in this season’s competition.

»- Of the five European Cup finals held at Wembley, two featured English clubs: Manchester United (1968) and Liverpool (1978) - and both teams were triumphant.

»- The only team to beat United in a European Cup final is Barcelona, 2-0 in Rome 2009.

»- Barca’s biggest European Cup final defeat came at the hands of AC Milan in 1994 (4-0).

»- Man United’s biggest defeat was 2-0 (to Barca in 2009).