PSV Eindhoven boss Mark van Bommel has claimed that Lionel Messi "is always the best in the world" regardless of whether the Barcelona forward does not win a particular award.

Van Bommel played with Messi at Barcelona during the 2005-06 campaign but will be in the dugout on Tuesday when he takes his PSV team to Camp Nou in the group stages of the Champions League.

Former midfielder Van Bommel has said that Messi "was destined for greatness" from an early stage.

"I only played with Leo when he made his Barca debut in 2005 but even by then, you could tell that he was destined for greatness," Van Bommel told reporters. "For me, he is always the best in the world even when he does not win the Golden Ball."

Messi has scored four times and registered three assists in five appearances for Barcelona this season.