New Delhi, July 23: Lionel Messi is a "machine built to play football", according to his former Barcelona team-mate and captain Xavi Hernandez.

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The duo shares a brilliant relationship even after Barcelona legend Xavi hanging up his boots and we often see the former Spanish international praising the Argentine superstar.

Messi, 30, is considered among the all-time greats, having enjoyed a spectacular career that has included success at both a team and personal level.

Messi is also a record five-time Ballon d'Or winner and Xavi, the midfielder who was at Barca until 2015, lauded his former team-mate.

"Leo can do [what] Xavi, [Andres] Iniesta and [Sergio] Busquets [do] at the same time and continue to do Messi," he told The Tactical Room.

"He seems a machine built to play football, with that rubber ankle that sticks to the ball."

Messi has already won eight La Liga titles and lifted three Champions League trophies with Barcelona and looks set to win more after agreeing a new contract to keep him at the club until 2021.

The contract saw his wages rise to an incredible £500,000 per week and comes with the option for a further year should he continue to prove his worth well into his 30s.

And the Argentine will be able to top up his earnings by around 20 per cent in total if he meets various targets such as winning La Liga, the Champions League and Ballon d'Or.

But his priority between now and the end of his career will almost certainly be lifting the World Cup with Argentina in Russia next year. Success on the international stage remains elusive on his CV with the 2018 contest possibly his last chance to amend it.

There is nothing left for the iconic player to achieve in club football and 2018 could be his last chance to have his best shot to achieve something huge at international level as well.

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