Menezes – Messi is the best player in the world

By Luke Vooght 2012-06-09 00:16:00

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Brazil coach Mano Menezes has acknowledged that Argentina forward Lionel Messi is the best player in on the world ahead today's friendly between the two South American arch-rivals.

Menezes watched Messi help the Albiceleste beat Ecuador in last weekend's World Cup qualifying clash, and the 49-year-old trainer has now told his Seleção troops to make sure that the Barcelona ace sees very little of the ball in New Jersey.

''We will play against the best in the world,'' Menezes told ESPN Brasil. ''He has great individual ability and the ball simply can not reach him with the same freedom that it did during their clash with Ecuador.

''Another problem we have is that Argentina is already up to competitive pace [whereas Brazil have only been playing friendlies]. We must be prepared for a tough game.''

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