Andres Iniesta: 'Lionel Messi doesn't need to win World Cup'

Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta has insisted that his teammate Lionel Messi "doesn't need to win the World Cup" to be considered as the best player of all time.

Messi received plenty of plaudits again on Saturday, as his brace in the 6-0 win over Rayo Vallecano took his tally to 337 goals for Barca - the most scored by any player for one Spanish side.

It has been suggested that Messi needs to win the World Cup to be considered as the greatest player, but Iniesta rejects that idea.

"Leo doesn't need to win the World Cup to be considered the best player ever," he is quoted as saying by The Sun.

"I say that for those who demand he wins the World Cup to be considered the greatest ever in history.

"He's decisive in every game he's played in for six or seven years."

Messi, who now captains Argentina, has earned 83 caps for his country, scoring 37 goals in the process.