Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is full of praise for young midfielder Phil Foden.

The Englishman has emerged as a vital option for City this season, cementing himself as a key member of the first eleven.

Guardiola admits he knew that Foden could be one of the best, even when Foden was 17.

"Well, the best is Messi, first," Guardiola said in an interview with Rio Ferdinand on BT Sport.

"Second, I didn't meet Leo Messi at 17-years-old like I met Phil (Foden), and that age, I've never seen a player with this potential.

"But you have to see it on the pitch and on the biggest stages."

Guardiola added: "He's comfortable. He loves to play.

"When this happens, you have to protect him. He's a guy who makes mistakes but he's forgotten (them). The most important part for a football player is the head.

"He's forgotten in one instance, one second. He thinks about the next one. The game against Borussia Dortmund at home, he missed three chances. Do you know who scored? It was him. I had the feeling, he's 20 years old."