Luis Suarez has declared his backing for Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi in the FIFA Ballon d'Or stakes. "I don't think he'll ever be outdone."
The Uruguayan has only played alongside his fellow South American since the start of the season, but he has already fallen for the 27-year-old's allure, conceding that the No 10's achievements dwarf his own, despite both players being the same age.
"Having the best player in the world always benefits the team, as he gives you confidence on the pitch," he suggested in an interview Mundo Deportivo.
"He gives us peace of mind and is a joy for everyone at Barcelona. For me it's clear. I'd love Leo to win [the Ballon d'Or].
"Considering the year Leo had with injuries and still scored the goals he did, plus what he achieved with Argentina, I think there is sufficient merit.
"He's incredible, there are no other words. You can't explain what he's doing at his age.
"I'm thinking that he's the same age as me and has scored twice as many goals as me.
"He's also earned lots of individual titles and continues to improve further.
"With Leo, he's a player who can't set targets for himself. He comes out all by himself, and over time, he has broken all the records.
"I don't think there'll ever be another player who can outdo him."
Suarez was made to pay for his World Cup bite on Giorgio Chiellini, after he was left out of the initial 23-man shortlist for the Ballon d'Or in October, but he admitted that the selection criteria slightly rankled him.
"If it's between January and December then the World Cup must be taken into account, and I think my attitude in Brazil wasn't good. It may be why I wasn't considered," he continued.
"Yet if the organisers only judged me on what happened to me at the World Cup, they'd need to look at all the other players' performances at the World Cup.
"There were a few on the shortlist who won the World Cup and others who were eliminated in the first round. Let's be clear in that regard.
"But hey, it's something that's already happened. I wasn't on the list, neither did I expect to be."
