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Villa hails 'incredible' Messi

Image: Partners: Messi and Villa have been in fine form for Barcelona this season

David Villa is in awe of Lionel Messi as the Barcelona star closes in on the club's all-time goalscoring record.

Nobody compares to Argentine, says Barca team-mate

David Villa insists team-mate Lionel Messi is in a league of his own as the Barcelona star closes in on the club's all-time goalscoring record. Messi, 24, only needs 44 more goals to surpass the 235 mark, a record currently held by Cesar Rodriguez, who played for the club between 1939 and 1955. This season the Argentine has already scored 12 goals and provided 10 assists in nine games - a share in 22 of Barca's 31 goals this term - as he continues to re-write the club's history books. His scoring ratio this season is 1.33 goals per game and strike partner Villa, who has chipped in with four goals in all competitions this season, insists no other player comes close to him. "He is doing incredible things," said Villa. "Each day he surprises everyone with a new record, he continually outdoes himself. "Nobody can compare with him, and we are very happy to have him wearing our colours."