Argentine legend Gabriel Batistuta rates Barcelona star Lionel Messi as the best player on the planet.

Batigol declared: "At Barcelona, he has done very well, now you expect the same with the national team, though he has not yet demonstrated his true value. He will have time to prove himself.

"The internationals came at a good time for him and I hope he continues to do well because it will give us all a big boost."

Batistuta also commented on Real Madrid's spending spree.

"The figures needed to buy Kakà and Cristiano Ronaldo are amazing, but I do not think they will have much effect on the players concerned.

"The person (Florentino Perez) behind the buying is no idiot and he knows he will get a return on his investment."