Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini rates Lionel Messi the best in the world.

Juve meet Messi's Barcelona in the Champions League final this weekend.

"Messi is now the God of football," said Chiellini.

"It's difficult to compare him with [Diego] Maradona, Pele and co., but he's probably the best player of the last 30 years.

"His goal against Athletic Club? It was certainly a great goal [but] I don't think Messi would be able to score a goal like that in Italy, where the defending is much better than in Spain.

"There's better football in the Spanish League but worse defending."