LIONEL MESSI is the "best player in history", according to his former Barcelona team-mate Xavi.
The Argentina international is widely regarded as one of the best players ever and has been competing with Cristiano Ronaldo for some years.
The pair have numerous individual accolades to their name, including five Ballon d’Or wins, while they have won everything there is to win in club football on several occasions.
It seems as though both have been pushing each other to even more special achievements and this was highlighted no more than last week in the Champions League.
No sooner had Ronaldo netted a sublime hat-trick for Juventus against Atletico Madrid has Messi responded with two goals and two assists of his own for Barca.
Messi surpassed Xavi's total of 476 wins with the Catalans as his hat-trick inspired a 4-1 victory against Real Betis at the weekend.
He also equaled Andre Iniesta's total of 674 appearances and has scored 588 goals for Barcelona in that time.
The Argentine was at his goalscoring best against Betis, a game in which he scored two Goal of the Season contenders and earned a standing ovation from opposition supporters.
Messi opened the scoring with a superbly struck free-kick 18 minutes into the tie, and added his second on the stroke of half-time.
Xavi's comments came after:
The 31-year-old then chipped Betis goalkeeper Pau Lopez for his third goal, capping off yet another magnificent display.
Messi has scored 39 goals and assisted 21 strikes in 37 matches across all competitions for Ernesto Valverde’s men so far this season.
“Every day he is a better player. He is unbelievable. In my opinion he is the best player in history, not just in this moment, in history,” Xavi said.
“What he is doing is incredible. Every game he makes the difference, every game, since 12 years ago. I was playing with him and his skill...he's incredible. The best player in the history in my opinion for sure.”
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