Manchester City winger Leroy Sane has named the three players he believes are on the same as Lionel Messi.
The German was speaking in a lengthy interview with German outlet Welt, where he talked about his stunning season so far.
Sane initially struggled upon his £37 million arrival from Schalke in the summer of 2016 but he grew as the season went on and scored nine goals in all competitions courtesy of an impressive second half of the campaign.
Earlier on this season, he didn't get going and was regularly on the bench for games after Pep Guardiola said he "did not arrive good".
But the German's form soon picked up and he has gone to have an electric second campaign in England, notching 11 goals and chipping in with four assists.
He credits Guardiola for helping his overall game and says he boss tells him to watch and learn from Messi.
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"He [Guardiola] often shows me the skills of players he has trained in the past," he said.
"For example, he asked me to have a detailed look at how Messi manages one-on-one-situations, and how he moves."
Despite an amazing run of form, Sane isn't getting ahead of himself and says he still has a long way to go before reaching the status of five-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi.
However, he does say that the other five-time Ballon d'Or winner, Cristiano Ronaldo, Eden Hazard and Neymar are all on Messi's level.
"No, I'm still far from being on their level," he explained.
"In the whole world, only a few players are: Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar and Hazard are on a level no one else can currently compete with.
"The achievements of Özil and Cavani are incredible, too. I'm not that far yet. To be able to play with freedom, I mainly need fun. I don't think and I don't set specific goals for a game. I just let things happen. If I clear my mind, everything else just happens."
Sane has a contract until 2021 and you'd expect him to remain at the Etihad Stadium for a considerable period.
However, he does admit he could see himself returning to boyhood club Schalke at the end of his career.
"I could imagine a return to Schalke at the end of my career," he explained.
"This will maybe be my only option, to return to the place where everything started. Schalke is a great club with great supporters and a very special atmosphere. I will never forget my time there.
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Manchester City, Eden Hazard, Neymar, Lionel Messi, Premier League, Argentina, Leroy Sane, Cristiano Ronaldo