“I would like to see Messi win,” the Argentinean told a press conference.

“I think he has done more than enough to deserve it and right now there is no footballer that compares to him.”

Messi has shrugged off repeated injuries to excel for the Catalan giants this term.

He scored five goals in the Primera Liga so far to help Barcelona recover from a poor start to their campaign.

“He's got incredible talent. It's impossible to take the ball away from him, he's a pacey player who can stop on a dime, he's extremely accurate, and now he is even scoring goals.”

“He's a complete player who right now looks to be one of the best all time,” Saviola, who had a seven-year spell with Barcelona, added.

Brazilian playmaker Kaka, who won the 2007 Ballon d’Or, also said recently that Messi deserves to be his successor.