Ex-Brazilian star Melo says they took turns to kick Messi when facing Argentina

Felipe Melo is of the belief that Lionel Messi is the greatest to ever play football and admits that Brazil's players used to take turns in fouling him whenever they faced the Argentinian.

The Barcelona star has terrorised every defence he's come up against in the last 15 years or so, including the Selecao's.

"He's a unique player," Felipe Melo said to Clarin.

"When Brazil played against him we used to say 'we have to kick him once each, we have to rotate'.

"If we didn't, it was too difficult to mark him. We didn't want to break him, just to cut his rhythm and to disturb him - it was tactical."

Melo has always been known for his combative style of play and has never shied away from a tackle, which he says is dealt with differently in Europe and South America.

"Referees break your balls everywhere," he said.

"But they're different.

"In England if you kick someone the fans say 'ooooh' but the referee doesn't change his mind.

"But the same kick in Spain gets you sent off.

"In Brazil, some leave you and some send you off and that's why I love the Copa Libertadores.

"If you get a Brazilian referee you can get sent off but with an Argentinian, not necessarily."