Leonardo Bonucci has insisted that Argentina captain Lionel Messi is one of the best players in the world, along with Portugal captain, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Bonnucci said this ahead of Italy’s 2022 Finalissima tie against Argentina on Wednesday night at Wembley.

Between them, Messi and Ronaldo have won 13 Ballon d’Or awards between them over the past 15 years.

The pair are arguably the best players in football history.

Messi left his boyhood club Barcelona last summer to join Paris Saint-Germain, while Ronaldo left Juventus to join Manchester United.

“He [Lionel Messi] has won so many Ballon d’Or awards that it’s difficult to add adjectives to his greatness." "He has been and remains one of the best in the world alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. You need to respect him on the pitch and to be ready individually and as a team to stop him,” Bonnucci said.

“Tomorrow it is a clash of two title-winning nations, and I want to put on a show.”