Brendan Rodgers has rated Luis Suarez as the best footballer in the world.

Ahead of Celtic's Champions League clash with Barcelona at Camp Nou on Tuesday night, Rodgers has spoken highly of his former Liverpool superstar has only improve in Catalonia since his 2014 move from Merseyside.

"First of all, when you speak about Luis Suarez, you have to speak about the man," said Rodgers.

"Luis Suarez is one of the most beautiful men you could come across. He's a very humble guy who works tirelessly at his profession. He is a super-professional, a family man who gives everything for his life as a footballer and his family.

"I had the pleasure of working with him for two years and he was incredible and as a footballer, he is the best in the world.

"The biggest compliment you can give Luis is that he came to an already world-class team and he made them even better."

Rodgers added further: "When I see them play now, Barcelona would not be the same team without Luis Suarez.

"Like all world-class players, they always find a space. You can have tactical ideas, you can park two double-decker buses in front of the goal, but I think that sometimes the best players in the world will always find a space.

"You have to try and do as much as you can to negate that and be as aggressive as you can in order to stop them and that is something we hope we will do but he is the best striker in the world at this moment in time, I don't think there is any question in that."

Despite Rodgers' love for the Uruguayan, Suarez is expected to be a massive thorn in Celtic's side having already scored four goals in four appearances for Barca this season.