Pep Guardiola unshakably regards Lionel Messi as the top player on the planet. Messi has Cristiano Ronaldo and Antoine Griezmann for company in The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2016 running.

“Messi is the best – he is definitely the best,” said the Manchester City manager. “He knows how to play, score, and make the other players play.

“He is always there. With all the respect to all the players – first to Cristiano Ronaldo – I think Messi is on another level."

Guardiola coached Messi for four years at Camp Nou. During that time Barcelona won three La Liga crowns, as well as the UEFA Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup twice apiece.

Messi helped Barcelona win La Liga and the Copa del Rey this year. La Pulga Atomica has scored 23 goals in 20 games for his club this season, while he netted eight goals in ten matches for Argentina in 2016, surpassing Gabriel Batistuta to become their all-time leading marksman in the process.

The Best FIFA Men’s Player will be crowned at The Best FIFA Football Awards™ ceremony in Zurich on 9 January 2017.