Zabaleta brands Man City teammate Aguero 'best striker' in world

Argentine full back Pablo Zabaleta has branded his Manchester City teammate as the best striker in the world and believes that the striker should have been tearing defences to shreds this season as a World Cup winner.

The red-hot Argentine striker, who is spearheading City's attempts to overhaul Chelsea at the top of the Premier League table, took his tally to 19 for the season on Wednesday with a double to sink Sunderland.

But Zabaleta cannot help but think what might have been in the summer had Aguero been fit and firing for his country. The striker had been a shadow of himself for the latter stages of the World Cup in Brazil after picking up a muscle strain in Argentina's final group game against Nigeria, The Daily Star reported.

With Lionel Messi also failing to fire on all cylinders, Argentina suffered heartache in the final, losing to Germany. Zabaleta said that one starts thinking what might have been at the World Cup if Aguero had been fit.

The full back said that one wants their top players to be in top form and unfortunately Aguero struggled with injuries last season and it continued into the tournament. He added that the outcome of the World Cup would have been different with the striker 100 percent.

Zabaleta said that Aguero is probably the best striker in the world at the moment, adding that they are lucky to have him.

While his countrymen are mourning for what might have been, his club mates are dreaming of what might next May. Revitalised City remain six points adrift of Chelsea but their recent upsurge has coincided with Aguero hitting heights few footballers in the world can reach.

Zabaleta said that his pal is in the form of his life. He claimed that he has known Aguero a long time and thinks this is probably the best moment of the striker's career.

Zabaleta said that everything Aguero does, he makes it look so easy, adding that the striker is sharp, clinical and works so hard for the team off the ball.