Messi scored twice, including a breath-taking free-kick, in Barca's 3-0 win over Liverpool in the semi-final first leg at the Camp Nou to make it 600 career goals for the Catalans.
Unusually, Pochettino, whose side lost 1-0 at home to Ajax in their last-four first leg, was more impressed by Messi's remarkable selflessness rather than his footwork and says his efforts are an example to his own players ahead of the rematch in Amsterdam on Wednesday.
"What can I say about Messi more than I have or others have already said? He's one of the Gods of football," said Pochettino. "It's unbelievable the desire and the capacity to fight with the ball at his feet and without the ball at his feet.
"I am so grateful to have the possibility to watch him every time I can. It's a massive example. Today if I have 21, 22, 23, 17, 18, 14-year olds, he must be the example.
Barcelona 3-0 Liverpool | Champions League Highlights
"Not what happens when he has the ball, but when he doesn't have the ball he has unbelievable character, how he works for the team. We are talking about Lionel Messi, who has won everything, that is a massive example. That is why it is so painful to start the game like we started the semi-final against Ajax."
Spurs can book their place in the Premier League top four with a win at Bournemouth on Saturday, before facing Ajax in one of the biggest games in the club's history.
"If we play like him [at Ajax] for sure we are going to have a chance [of winning]," Pochettino said.
"But not like him doing what he does with the ball, but like him without the ball. If we play like him without the ball, show the desire that he had yesterday, for sure we are going to have the chances to qualify for the final.
"If not, no chance.
In Pictures | Barcelona vs Liverpool, Champions League | 01/05/2019
"If we play like we played the first 20 minutes it's difficult to have a chance because Ajax wasn't better than us. In the moment they showed more desire than us, they were better.
"That is the key point; that is so important. To play at Bournemouth on Saturday we need to show the same desire, if not, impossible to win. Wednesday will be the same. That is a key point and it is so painful, in the other semi-final when you see Messi's desire and motivation and say, 'Why weren't we motivated in the same way'."
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