Messi the 'best of all time'

Cape Town - Barcelona is the best player in the world and indeed of all time if one Barcelona teammate is to be believed.

Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic has declared Lionel Messi as "the best player in the world and of all time" according to AS.

Rakitic told reporters after Lionel Messi's latest hat-trick against Espanyol that Messi is a unique talent.

Messi scored three goals as Barcelona crushed their rivals 5-1 and as is customary, the team is asked to sign the ball for the hat-trick hero.

"Tomorrow he’ll bring us another ball for us to sign and I really don’t know what to put this time" Rakitic said.

The Croatian believes that Messi will win the 2014 Ballon d'Or title ahead the other two finalists, Cristiano Ronaldo and Manuel Neuer.

The Argentine striker's Barcelona record now stands at 402 goals in all competitions including 28 in friendly matches. 

Barcelona sit two points behind Real Madrid on the La Liga table.