Samuel Eto'o says Barcelona pal Lionel Messi deserves this year's Ballon d'Or. The Barca striker rates Messi ahead of Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo, declaring: "Cristiano is a great player, but Messi is top of the entire world at the moment, both in training and in matches.

"He performs actions and gestures that no one has ever done before him.

"This is the new Maradona. He is a player who makes us dream."