Gianluigi Buffon has said that Joe Hart is the best goalkeeper in the world.

The Italian will play against Hart when Juventus travel to Manchester City on Tuesday evening.

"I've been watching his game for a few years now, and Joe Hart is now for me one of the top three goalkeepers in the world," Buffon told The Mirror.

"He had the period where he made some mistakes and was dropped, but he needed that. I've always said you need to be a bit of a masochist to be a top goalkeeper and that period would have made Joe that.

"Since his return to the team after being dropped, you won't think of a better goalkeeper in the world."

Hart has made 303 appearances for Manchester City since signing from Shrewsbury Town in 2006.