The Red Devils take on the Spanish giants at Old Trafford in the first of their two last-eight clashes having edged past Paris Saint-Germain against all odds in the last 16, winning 3-1 in Paris thanks to a stoppage-time Marcus Rashford penalty after losing the first leg 2-0.
But the next challenge on the continent awaiting Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side is another step up, with Messi – widely viewed as the best player in the world – looking to down United in search of his fifth Champions League crown.
The Argentine maestro has watched long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo win as many as that in the last five years alone with the Portuguese icon, a former United player, having also streaked ahead as the competition’s all-time top goalscorer.
Messi declared his intent to win the tournament again before the start of the season, telling Barca fans: “We will do all we can to bring that beautiful trophy back to the Nou Camp.”
Barca are 11 points clear atop La Liga and already in the final of the Copa del Rey, with their European ambitions now their chief objective.
And with Messi having been in stellar form of late, scoring 13 goals and laying on three assists in his last nine games across all competitions alone to take his season’s tally up to 43 goals and 21 assists in 40 games, Cole believes United cannot afford to face the forward if he’s at his explosive best.
“Anything is possible in football matches. United have proven that against PSG,” Cole said.
“They are going to have to play extremely well because they have an impish little genius in [Lionel] Messi.
“I have watched him closely over many years and I look at him now and think he is getting better as he gets older.
“If he has an off night or he is injured or whatever, then you never know what can happen.”
United have never lost at home to Barca with former striker Cole an unused substitute in their group stage meeting in 1999, which the two teams drew 3-3.
The Premier League outfit also forced a 3-3 draw at the Nou Camp that season.
And Cole has urged Solskjaer’s charges not to be intimidated by facing the likes of Messi and Luis Suarez in either leg.
He added: ”Go and do the same thing. Go and enjoy it. We knew we were a very good team and Barcelona were a very good team.
“We showed no fear there. A lot of teams go there and show a bit of fear. They had fantastic players but so did we.
“We went out there and played football. They did the same. That season both games ended up 3-3 and that told you everything about both teams.
“We were respectful but we both tried to beat each other. But six goals in each game speaks volumes about two teams trying to play attacking, attractive football.”