Paul Scholes: 'Lionel Messi is the greatest player I've shared a pitch with'

Paul Scholes has declared that Lionel Messi is the "greatest player" he has ever shared a pitch with during his illustrious career.

The 40-year-old has placed the Argentine ahead of Andrea Pirlo and Zinedine Zidane, as well as former Manchester United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.

He wrote in The Independent: "I think about the great players with whom I have shared a pitch: Eric Cantona, Zinedine Zidane, Pirlo, Xavi, Cristiano Ronaldo – and the greatest of them all is Messi."

Messi will aim to win his fourth Champions League winners medal when Barcelona take on Juventus in the final in Berlin later today.