Lionel Messi hailed as the 'best in history' by Marco Verratti after stunning goal for PSG

Lionel Messi has been hailed as the 'best in history' by Marco Verratti following his stunning goal for Paris Saint-Germain against Benfica.

Messi produced a moment of magic to score a spectacular goal in his side's 1-1 draw against Benfica in the Champions League on Wednesday.

He curled home a delightful strike into the back of the net to bring up his eighth goal of the season.

Messi has returned to his very best this season, starring for club and country - with Verratti showering his esteemed teammate with glowing praise.

"It’s incredible what Messi does, you never get used to it," the Italian told RMC Sport after the Group H clash. "It’s in the simple things that you fall in love with him.

"For me, who loves football like that, he is an example, he is the best in history."

Jamie Carragher also echoed Verratti's sentiment that Messi is the best player in history.

The Liverpool legend said he wants Argentina to win the 2022 World Cup so that the 35-year-old can cement his status as 'the greatest player to ever play football'.

On CBS Sports, alongside Thierry Henry and Micah Richards, he revealed: "He is the best player I think all three of us has ever seen.

"You've got greats that have come before; Pele, maybe Johan Cruyff, of course, we all saw [Diego] Maradona.

"But I would say that Lionel Messi is the greatest player to ever play football.

"That may not be universal because everyone associates... you have to win a World Cup.

"I would love nothing more than in Qatar for Argentina and Lionel Messi to win the World Cup.

"Just to cement him, where I see him - but in everybody's eyes, as the greatest player to have ever played the game."

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