Lionel Messi didn't hesitate when naming the three best players in the Premier League

Lionel Messi once named the three best players in the Premier League as he named a Manchester City legend as well as two former Manchester United greats.

Messi is still going strong in his legendary career, weighing in with goals and assists for Inter Miami, having recently inspired the club to their second piece of silverware.

He joined the Major League Soccer side from Paris Saint-Germain, where he moved on a free transfer following his switch from Barcelona.

Messi is delivering the goods in the third league of his career, having shone in Spain and France.

Unfortunately for Premier League fans, the Argentine has never plied his trade in England, having been linked with the likes of Man United and Chelsea in the past.

But he's seemingly a fan of England's top flight as he once picked out the three best players from the league.

Speaking in 2012, Messi name-checked Sergio Aguero, Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie.

"There are several quality players in the Premier League like Kun Aguero, who is my friend. I really like how he plays," he revealed in an old interview.

"Rooney [and] Van Persie are playing really well - they are great players."

Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney celebrate a Manchester United goal. Image: Getty

Aguero, who played with Messi at international level, enjoyed an iconic career at Man City and is the club's all-time top goal-scorer with 260 goals.

He won an impressive five league titles during his 10-year stay at the Etihad.

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner also named Rooney and Van Persie, who both starred at Old Trafford during their careers.

Like Aguero, Rooney won five league titles at Man United and scored 253 goals for the club.

Van Persie has just one league title to his name but was prolific in the Premier League, having scored 96 league goals for Arsenal and 48 league goals for Man United.