Cole - Messi is world's best

England midfielder rates Messi above Cristiano Ronaldo

Last updated: 14th May 2008

Joe Cole

Cole: Messi fan

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Joe Cole has told Lionel Messi he would love to team up with him at Chelsea - and taunted Cristiano Ronaldo by saying the Argentina star has proved he is the world's best.

Chelsea have been linked with Barcelona attacker Messi on a number of occasions as Roman Abramovich apparently looks to inject more flair into the club, and Cole admits he would relish the opportunity to play alongside the youngster.

And ahead of next week's UEFA Champions League final, Cole has told Ronaldo that Messi proved he was the better player when the sides met in the previous round.

"I think they are both great players," he said. "Ronaldo has been fantastic, but Messi showed in the semi-final that he is the top man.

"If we could sign him, I'd love to play alongside him. He is only 20 as well - just imagine how good he will be in the next 10 years."

Meanwhile, Cole has rejected team-mate Didier Drogba's claims that the team lost the title race because of complacency.

Concentration

Referring to the amount of late goals Chelsea conceded, the Ivory Coast striker said it was 'certainly proof of an excess of complacency and a lack of concentration on our part'.

But Cole insists that all teams make mistakes and Manchester United came out on top because they were the better side.

"The best team win the Premier League - it is as simple as that.

"Manchester United would have dropped points they shouldn't have too. We just have to put it to bed and get on with things.

"We have the Champions League to play for. If you worried about every mistake you or the team had made over the course of the season, you would never sleep at night.

"Everyone has been patting us on the back for almost winning the league and getting to the Champions League final but it is about putting silverware on the table."