Lionel Messi world's best player, best since Diego Maradona
Lionel Messi world's best player since Diego Maradona, Stuttgart manager Christian Gross says
Thursday, 18, Mar 2010 01:30
By Matthew Champion.
Lionel Messi underlined his status as the world's best player since Diego Maradona in Barcelona's 4-0 demolition of Stuttgart, the managers of both teams agreed last night.
The 22-year-old followed up his sublime hat-trick against Valencia in La Liga last weekend by scoring twice and setting up another as Barcelona joined Manchester United in becoming only the second Champions League holders to reach the quarter-finals the following year.
Stuttgart boss Christian Gross, formerly of Tottenham Hotspur, praised the Argentinean in the highest possible terms after watching his side be comprehensively outclassed at the Nou Camp.
[Messi] is the best player in the world; he's a fantastic talent and it's incredible to think he's only 22," Gross said.
"It's fair to compare him to Maradona."
Messi's own manager Pep Guardiola, used to praising his side's star player after almost every match, said the forward was "simply the best".
"We took to the pitch with great intensity and were aggressive in our approach; we never allowed any time to think," the Barcelona manager, whose side top La Liga as well, said.
On Friday's Champions League quarter-final draw, Guardiola added: "Every team in the quarter-finals is strong and when we get there we'll have to produce two excellent games in order to advance."
Messi's brace last night took him to 29 goals for the season, three behind Manchester United and England star Wayne Rooney, who will not have it all his own way in the Fifa world player of the year award.