Real Madrid legend Raul rates Barcelona ace Lionel Messi the best player he's faced.

The New York Cosmos player-coach was asked who was the best he'd played against.

"Messi," Raul told Sports Illustrated.

"I was lucky enough to play with Zidane, Ronaldo, Figo, Cristiano... but Messi is different; he makes everything look so easy, so effortless - even the impossible. When you watch him play, it's almost as though you are watching him in the street playing with his mates. From the time when I started out, the best players around then were Roberto Baggio and Ryan Giggs."