Laporta: Messi is the best player in the world

(GSM) – Barcelona boss Josep Guardiola claims he has run out of superlatives to describe Lionel Messi following another incredible performance from the Argentinian superstar with the club’s president, Joan Laporta, hailing him as the best player of all time.

Messi netted three times on Saturday in the 4-2 win over Real Zaragoza. It was his second hat-trick in as many league games, which took his tally to 34 in all competitions and 11 in the last five matches – including two against VfB Stuttgart in the Champions League on Wednesday.

“Put in the superlatives yourselves, I’m running out,” Guardiola said after the match. “It’s already been a while now that he has been outstanding.

“That he’s capable of doing everything that he does at his age is something impressive, that doesn’t make any sense.”

Messi was a huged doubt for the Zaragoza match as he was suffering from a dental abscess and Guardiola admitted it would have been hard to leave him out.

“It wasn’t an infection in the tooth, it was in the gum. He was in a lot of pain,” said Guardiola “But in the morning I asked him how he was and he told me that he was better.

“Before the game I asked if he wanted to play and he said yes. I asked him how many minutes and he told me the whole game. He always wants to play, whether it’s the Champions League final or against a third division side.

“For me it’s difficult to leave him out, seeing the form he’s in.”

Laporta added: “Messi has once again shown that he is a wonderful player and that he is, without doubt, the leader of Barcelona.

“He is the best player in the world and the best in the history of football. Along with (Johan) Cruyff and (Diego) Maradona, he is the best player we have seen at Barca.”