Barca boss heaps praise on 'World Class' Messi

Lionel MessiJohannesburg, Jan 20 - Barcelona manager Luis Enrique has lavished praise on team's talisman Lionel Messi, describing the Argentine as a world class player after the forward took his tally to 28 goals in 27 games with a hat-trick in a 4-0 win away to Deportivo la Coruna.

Quashing reports of a dressing room rift between two, Enrique said that Messi had been at an extraordinarily high level all season, adding that he hadn't dipped at any point and had been world class, Sport24 reported.

The win over Coruna has lifted Barcelona back to within a point of league leaders Real Madrid. (ANI)