Barcelona manager Luis Enrique has claimed that Lionel Messi's "extraordinary" display in the Copa del Rey final proves that he is the number one player in the world.
The Argentina international again stood out for his side, netting the opener and playing a part in two others as Barca beat Alaves 3-1 at the Vicente Calderon on Saturday night.
Enrique, who departs the club this summer with nine major honours to his name, insists that another 54-goal season for Messi is enough to make him think that he is "from outer space".
"He is out of the ordinary," he told reporters. "He is extraordinary, he is from outer space. Look at what he can do on the pitch, the way he overcomes the rest of the players, the superiority he generates for us in every action of the game where he participates, the way he leads the whole team.
"I have had the chance to enjoy the best Messi, or one of the best versions of himself, his peak, his highest efficiency. He is number one, there is no doubt. We say so and his performance proves so. It has been a pleasure."
Messi has won five World Player of the Year gongs in the last nine years, while rival and Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has four.
Daniel Lewis
