LEAD: Ferguson hails Messi and Barcelona

By Peter Auf der Heyde Jan 9, 2012, 15:40 GMT

Zurich - Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said Monday that Lionel Messi was one of the all-time greats of the game and that his club Barcelona were the best.

Messi was the overwhelming favourite to pick up a third successive FIFA Player of the Year award later in the day, while Ferguson was competing with Barcelona's Pep Guardiola and Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho for the coaching award.

Ferguson told a press conference ahead of the Ballon d'Or gala in Zurich's Kongresshaus that Messi could have played at the highest level at any time.

'There are players like Pele, like Diego Maradona or like Alfredo di Stefano, who would have been the best at any time they played. Messi is certainly in that category,' Ferguson said.

Ferguson, who won the Premier League with United for the 12th time last season but lost the Champions League final against Barca, said that the Spanish club would repeat their European feat this season.

'They are the best team in the world. There are times where you have to hold up your hand and say the other team are the best. They are extraordinary.

'It is not a weakness to admit to that and it is not believing in my own side, it is just simply a fact,' Ferguson said.

Messi, 24, helped Barcelona win the Spanish league, the Champions League, the World Club Cup as well as the Spanish and UEFA Super Cups, but still simply enjoys playing football.

'I don't really think what I have achieved and what I can achieve, I just enjoy every moment,' he said.

The Argentine's success with the national team has been moderate, but Messi expressed hope that things will be better at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

'Being world champion would be a great achievement, but Argentina is far from being the best team in the world,' he admitted.

Messi was also complimented by his club coach Guardiola.

'Players like Messi love the game, you do not have to motivate them. They remain on top because they love the game,' Guardiola said.

'You will never become one of the best if you are not prepared to give something from yourself. Messi does that and a coach can only help a player like that for a year or two, after that he takes himself further.'

Messi's team-mate Xavi, who with Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the three finalists for the award, said that he accepted that it was tough to win against Messi, to whom he also lost in 2010 after helping Spain to a first World Cup title.

'He will be one of the best footballers in the history of the sport,' Xavi said.

Meanwhile, Japan captain Homare Sawa was the favourite for the women's award after helping the team to a first World Cuop title last year in Germany, being tournament top scorer and named best player of the event.

The Inac Kobe Leonessa midfielder said she always dreamed of playing at the top but 'what happened last year has by far exceeded my expectations.

'I am proud to be sitting here today alongside such legends as (Brazilian five-times award winner) Marta,' she said.

Japan could quite possibly pick up both women's awards as Norio Sasaki was expected to be crowned Coach of the Year.