"It's not easy to stay as humble as Messi"

Javier Mascherano has spoken out in support of club and international teammate Leo Messi, particularly praising the star's humility.

Speaking at an event in front of around 200 students in Mexico, the midfielder lauded Messi for having remained a "normal, ordinary" guy despite all his success.

"It's not easy, considering he's the best at what he does, to stay as humble as he is and be such a down-to-earth, approachable person", Mascherano noted.

"Usually the best in any area see things differently, but that's not the case for Leo. He's a normal, ordinary person and that's what enables us to have such a good relationship and work well together", the former River Plate and Liverpool schemer went on.

Mascherano said that he is "very fond" of Messi because of his human qualities, "over and beyond the respect I have for him as such a great player and because of everything he's achieved". 'El Jefecito' then went further, saying that the pair are friends and calling Messi the best player in the world.

The 31-year-old, who has played in three World Cups (Germany 2006, South Africa 2010 and Brazil 2014, losing in the final last time out), was asked what winning means to him by a kid. "It's a unique feeling of happiness, but like I said before, you have to accept that you can't always win", he replied.