Cristian Rodriguez: 'Luis Suarez is world's best player'

Cristian Rodriguez has described Uruguay teammate Luis Suarez as the "best player in the world" ahead of this summer's World Cup.

The Liverpool striker faces a race for fitness ahead of the start of the tournament, having undergone knee surgery to repair his meniscus earlier this month.

The Atletico Madrid winger told the Daily Mail: "Suarez is the best player in the world. And I'm not saying that because I'm Uruguayan and so is he.

"As far as I'm concerned [Lionel] Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are a notch or so below Suarez. He has demonstrated it for club and country. Messi and Ronaldo are not as good for their countries as for their clubs.

"Everyone loves him in the squad. He is a rebel on the pitch who fights for every ball but that is what we love about him in Uruguay. We hate to lose at anything, we want to win, so his will to win makes him a good Uruguayan."

Suarez was named the PFA Player of the Year after scoring 31 goals during the 2013-14 Premier League season.