Messi doesn't need World Cup glory to be the best ever, says Gabriel Milito.

The former Argentina centre-back has hailed his compatriot's fine performances and feels he is arguably the best player ever.

Former Barcelona defender Gabriel Milito believes that Lionel Messi is the best player in the history of the game even if he never wins the World Cup with Argentina.

The 26-year-old, who recently stated that he dreams of winning Brazil 2014, has often been criticised for his relatively underwhelming performances with the national side, but Milito feels his compatriot doesn't need international success in order to be seen as the best ever.

"It doesn't seem right to me to claim that you have to win the World Cup in order to be regarded as the best ever," Milito told RAC1.

"He just keeps on improving and outdoing himself year after year and that's why he is the best ever for me.

"I simply cannot imagine that there will ever be a player who can do what Leo has been doing on the pitch."

Messi has been in fine form in the opening weeks of the 2013-14 campaign, netting nine goals in six appearances for Barcelona.(Goal.com)

The week's top player is Messi.

A facebook page has published the photo and posted a article-

They said, "Messi couldn't score a goal against Chelsea", But they never said "Real Madrid, Man Utd is better than Chelsea and Messi scored most goals against RM, beat ManU in 2 UCL finals by his goal."

Video: Barcelona 4-0 Ajax.All Goals I UEFA Champions LeagueHD.

Messi 3-3 Ronaldo: The battle of the Champions begins again.

The Argentine and the Portuguese are the world's two finest footballers and have already ignited Europe's premier club competition this week. But who will come out on top?

Good things, it is often said, come in threes. And as the Champions League commenced again this week, the tournament's two finest footballers both hit trebles to kick off their own personal duel in the latest edition of Europe's elite club competition: Ronaldo and Messi are already off and running.

First it was Cristiano: the Portuguese marked a week in which he celebrated signing a new contract with Real Madrid by hitting a hat-trick in his side's superb 6-1 win at Galatasaray on Tuesday night, as the capital club began their quest for La Decima in impressive fashion. But Leo was not to be outdone and the Argentine struck a triple of his own as Barcelona beat Ajax 4-0 in an ultimately comfortable clash at Camp Nou a day later. Following a summer break, the Champions League is now well and truly back in the spotlight, ignited instantly by its two brightest stars.

HAT-TRICK HEROES: CR & LEO

Cristiano converted with two opportunistic efforts for Madrid in Istanbul, before completing his hat-trick with a superb solo strike which saw him beat several defenders and angle a powerful drive into the corner against an admittedly weak Galatasaray back line.

Messi, meanwhile, led a somehwat subdued Barca side to a routine win at home to Ajax on Wednesday as the Catalans went through the gears before comfortably killing off Dutch hopes of an upset in the second period. The Argentine opened the scoring with a fine free kick in what had been an evenly matched first period, slotted in a second after latching on to a Sergio Busquets ball and made it three for him personally (after Gerard Pique had headed Barca's third goal) with a low drive into the corner late in the game.

Between the two of them, Messi and Ronaldo have finished the last three seasons as top scorers in the Champions League: Leo struck 12 goals in 2010-11 and added 14 more (a new competition record) the following season, while Cristiano converted 12 times in 2012-13.

Now, with three goals apiece from just one game, the two rivals look set to dominate the scoring charts in Europe's premier club competition once again. Messi 3-3 Ronaldo: the battle of the Champions begins again in earnest.(Goal.com)

Lionel Messi gets another hat-trick in Barcelona destruction of Ajax.

Lionel Messi gave yet another sparkling Champions League recital when he netted a hat-trick for Barcelona in a crushing win at home against AjaxAmsterdam in their Group H opener.

The Argentinian World Player of the Year lit up Camp Nou with a brilliant curling free-kick in the 22nd minute, a trademark dash in from the right and clinical finish 10 minutes into the second half and a low shot into the corner from the edge of the area 15 minutes from time.

He is the first player to score four trebles in Europe's elite club competition and took his overall goals tally to 62 in 80 appearances, nine short of the record of Raúl of Real Madrid.

"It was important to start with a win, especially playing at home," Messi said.

"We know how difficult these Champions League groups always are," he added. "In the second half we had the ball and controlled the match. We found it tough to pressure them initially because they were moving the ball well out from the back. But I think in general it was a great performance."

The defender Gerard Piqué netted Barca's third with a header from Neymar's centre in the 69th minute and their goalkeeper, Victor Valdés, continued his fine run of form by saving Kolbeinn Sigthorsson's 77th-minute penalty.

Barcelona generally struggled to reproduce the scintillating play that has brought them two European crowns in the past five seasons. However, with Messi on fire and Barça hosting an Ajax side lacking in real quality, the outcome of the match was never in doubt.

Surprisingly Wednesday's match was the first official meeting between the two continental heavyweights, who have each won four European titles.

A Johan Cruyff-inspired Ajax claimed three straight triumphs between 1971 and 1973 and another in 1995 in a side including the current coach, Frank de Boer, who later had a four-year stint at Camp Nou.

Barça won their first European crown under coach Cruyff in 1992 and three more in 2006, 2009 and 2011.(Source:The Guardiun)

Lionel Messi hits hat-trick as Barcelona trounce Ajax.

Messi took his tally to 62 Champions League goals and became the first player to score more than four hat-tricks in the competition. It was his 24th hat-trick for Barça.

A day after Cristiano Ronaldo hit three in Real Madrid’s 6-1 thumping of Galatasaray, Messi reminded everyone who is still the four-time reigning Ballon d’Or winner.

Despite boasting eight European Cup and Champions League crowns between them, Barcelona and Ajax had never met before their Group H encounter at the Nou Camp.

And typically it was a dazzling display from Messi that got the 2009 and 2011 winners off to the ideal start. Afterwards he dedicated the victory to Barça coach Gerard Martino, who will fly home to Argentina to attend his father’s funeral.

“It was a special game. It is a shame what has happened and he is suffering, but we are all with him in this moment,” he said.

Ronaldo, Messi, no Bale: Champions League Team of the Season 2013-14

Goal.com brings you the XI players who are set to shine most brightly in this edition of Europe's premier club competition
The beginning of another star-studded edition of the Champions League is just around the corner, with the world's finest footballers jousting to win Europe's most coveted club competition. Bearing in mind the ability of their respective teams to go deep in the tournament, Goal brings you the XI players who will set the measure of excellence on the road to Lisbon.Thibaut Courtois - Atletico Madrid

Drawn in a generous group, there can be few doubts that Atletico Madrid have what it takes to progress through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. While David Villa will be key for them offensively, it is their young Belgian goalkeeper who is set to catch the eye once more. The 21-year-old has never previously played at this level but is a custodian of undoubted class and is ready to make his big-time breakthrough as Diego Simeone's men show there is more than just one great team in the Spanish capital.

Stephan Lichtsteiner - Juventus

The Swiss right-back has long been one of the most underrated defenders in the European game but should come into his own this season in a Juventus side capable of going deep in the competition. A reliable presence defensively, he is also capable of operating in several other roles. His multi-talented attributes and consistent level of performance should see him recognised as one of the best players in his position this term.