Barca legend Xavi believes no one can ever match Messi's level

Barcelona legend Xavi believes nobody will ever be able to replace Lionel Messi in terms of abilities and achievements, insisting that his arch rival Cristiano Ronaldo also stands nowhere near his level.

The 36-year-old believes there would be many good players in the coming future, but no one would ever come close to Messi's level when he eventually decides to call it quits, the Mirror reported.

Xavi, who played with Messi until last summer before leaving for Qatar, said that although Barcelona's Neymar and Chelsea's Eden Hazard has the required quality to be the world's best, but none of them would be as superior as the Argentine talisman.

Argentina striker Messi took retirement from international football after his side fell short in the Copa America final for the third time in his career last month.

Messi, who is now expected to extend his contract with Barcelona in the next few weeks, is a five-time Ballon d'Or winner which came in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015.