Javier Mascherano hails "incredible" Lionel Messi

Javier Mascherano has become the latest of Lionel Messi's Barcelona teammates to heap praise on the striker.

The Argentine took his tally to 88 goals for the calendar year on Wednesday night as his brace helped Barca defeat Cordoba 2-0 in the first leg of their Copa del Rey last 16 tie.

"Messi is unique, he's the best player in the history of the sport," Mascherano told the club's official website. "The numbers say so. We're talking about 88 goals as if it were normal. What he's done is incredible."

Barcelona welcome Cordoba back to the Camp Nou for the second leg of the contest on January 9.