Lionel Messi is the best player in the world, says AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini

Lionel Messi is overtaking Diego Maradona in terms of success, according to Maldini

Rome, June 30 (IANS) Italian football legend Paolo Maldini on Tuesday said Lionel Messi is slowly overtaking Argentine icon and countryman Diego Maradona in terms of success he has had over the last few years.

"Leo Messi is the best player in the world. From what I'm seeing, he's approaching the point where he is perhaps overtaking Maradona in terms of everything he's achieved in recent years," former A.C. Milan star Maldini was quoted as saying by goal.com.

In Luis Enrique's first season in charge of Barcelona, the Catalan club clinched the treble which consists of the La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the European Champions League.

Former Italy captain Maldini, considered as one of the best defenders to have played the game, has also predicted that Messi and his current Barcelona teammates are destined to "break all the records".

"Messi, Neymar and Suarez are phenomenal and the statistics speak for themselves," the 47-year-old, who quit professional football in 2009 after playing 902 matches for Milan, said.

"Barcelona have already made history and the team's destined to break all the records," Maldini, who played 126 matches for Italy, added.