Xavi hails "incomparable" Lionel Messi

Barcelona midfielder Xavi has heaped praise upon his teammate Lionel Messi, saying that he is arguably the greatest player of all time.

Messi, 24, scored five goals in Barcelona's 7-1 destruction of Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday, leaving him just seven goals short of the all-time scoring record for the club.

Comparisons with Diego Maradona have been rife throughout Messi's glittering career, but Xavi believes that the three-time Ballon d'Or winner is a one-off.

"He is the best player in the world - maybe the best of all time," said the Spaniard. "Football is moving on, but he stays the same.

"He deserves the admiration of any sportsman. He is incomparable, a one-off. There is no other player who can make such a difference - he'll break all the records."

Messi has scored 48 goals in 42 matches already this season and has scored 228 goals in 311 games for the club overall.