Lionel Messi is the best player ever and Barcelona owe their success to their evolution to a more direct style from a possession-based passing game, the club's former player David Villa has said.

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - International Friendly - Argentina v Venezuela - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - March 22, 2019 Argentina's Lionel Messi looks dejected REUTERS/Juan Medina/File Photo