In modern footballing history, few players have reached the levels of Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez.

The Spaniard is viewed as one of the finest central midfielders to have ever graced the game, with his partnership alongside Andres Iniesta a key reason behind the success of both Barca and the national team.

The man who fed off of Xavi's greatness so well was Lionel Messi, the man who he ranks as the greatest footballer to have ever played the game.

"Messi understands everything," he said.

"It's a shame that they compare him with anyone else. Messi masters everything: the space, the time, where his teammate is and his opponent.

"Before he used to unbalance teams with ability and his strength. Now he does it naturally: he draws you in. He sees he has a marker and he knows that the marker is afriad, waits for another to come and then he waits for just the right moment to pass it.

"I saw that with LeBron James. He draws you in until he has someone free. We have worked on this since we were kids, to know where the space is and where the free man is. Even Ter Stegen knows it."

High praise. In the same interview, Xavi was drawn onto the topic of Real Madrid's two Spanish midfielders, Isco and Marco Asensio.

And, he managed to hand the pair some solid Messi-related advice in order to dig themselves out of the rut they find themselves in this season.

XAVI DISHES OUT THE ADVICE

"These guys are very young and I think they have to know what Luis Aragonés told me: "What do you like? Nice football or good football? And I didn't understand.

"And the signficance? Give me good football. I don't want to give names but many players have come into LaLiga, gone missing and left without a leaving a mark.

"Yes, tricks, but why? What tricks does Messi do? Messi almost never does tricks. Messi does his job. Messi plays good football and at the same time, plays such good football that it."

So, there you have it. The best bit about Lionel? The simplistic way he plays the game. Take note Real Madrid boys.