Xavi: 'Lionel Messi is the best ever'

Barcelona midfielder Xavi has said that Cristiano Ronaldo and Franck Ribery may deserve to win the FIFA Ballon d'Or, but remains adamant that his teammate Lionel Messi is the world's best player.

The Argentine has won the award for the past four years but is likely to take second stage to the Real Madrid and Bayern Munich attackers.

"Ribery and Cristiano have done enough to deserve winning the Ballon d'Or, but I have no doubt that the best right now, and in history, is Messi," Football Espana quotes the Spanish international as saying.

The award ceremony takes place in Kongresshaus, Zurich on January 13.