Former Boca Juniors goalkeeper Hugo Gatti criticised Leo Messi's display during Barcelona's 2-0 Clasico defeat to Real Madrid.

Messi had a quiet game at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu and his fellow countryman felt he looked like a player who had already hung up his boots.

"You can't defend it," Gatti told El Chiringuito de Jugones.

"You can defend him on a footballing level but, when Messi looks like a veteran, it should also be said.

"He looks like a retired player lately, it's the truth," Gatti claimed.

Nevertheless, he still defended that Messi was the best in the world, but not without company.

"Today he [looked like] a former footballer," he said.

"Yet even so, today he is the best player in the world along with Cristiano Ronaldo."