Messi was last night making more room in his bulging trophy cabinet after being named La Liga’s Players’ Footballer of the Year and Best Striker for last season.

The awards capped a sensational year of record breaking for the 25-year-old who is also favourite to lift the Ballon d’Or for a fourth successive time in January.

“Leo Messi is the No 1 in the world. Messi is the best not only for his goals but for his game in general,” the Sun quoted Iniesta, as saying.

“He has a huge importance in the team, he is unique and decisive and that is why he breaks all those records. What makes the people of Barcelona even happier is that he has so much time left ahead of him in the game,” he added.