Bengaluru, February 14: Ivan Rakitic has labelled his Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi as the best ever in the history of world football.

The Argentine is surely one of the finest stars of world football and has already broken numerous footballing record, winning all the possible club level trophies along with all the personal glories a footballer can have.

But his team-mate Rakitic who has been playing with him for the last four years now has added that despite being the best playmaker, the attacker always presents himself with a modest personality and is very helpful towards his team-mate in every possible way.

"He's the reference. Our game depends a lot on him. He doesn't need to talk to understand, a gesture is enough," the Croatian told Antena 3. "He is the best in history, capable of turning the game around in a second. He is shy because he knows that everyone is watching him."

Citing an example, the Croatian midfielder stated that when the player moved from rival La Liga side Sevilla to Barcelona, Messi himself assisted the player to settle in Catalonia and helped him to gel well with the rest of the team-mates.

"He was one of the first to support me when I arrived and I was wondering if I needed something," Rakitic said. "He is a different person from the others."

Just like every season, this season too the little Argentine is delivering the same with his feet. The 30-year-old has already notched up 27 goals and 14 assists in all competitions this season and steering his side to the top of the La Liga table with a seven-point advantage over second-placed Atletico Madrid.