Josep Maria Bartomeu: 'Nobody can compete with Lionel Messi'

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has backed "sublime forward" Lionel Messi to win a sixth Ballon d'Or crown as no other player comes close to matching his ability.

The Argentina international, who has won the top individual accolade just once in the last four years, is expected to go head-to-head with Real Madrid ace Cristiano Ronaldo in next January's award ceremony.

Bartomeu believes that Messi has done enough to warrant star billing once again, insisting that the 30-year-old still remains out in front of all other challengers.

"I would give him all the prizes in world football. No-one can compete," he told Barca TV. "He has created an era and he still remains at this sublime level."

Messi has scored 14 goals already this season for Barcelona, while also bagging a crucial hat-trick to help send Argentina through to the World Cup finals last week.