Barcelona legend Carles Puyol has spiced up his former club's rivalry with Real Madrid by insisting their fans are unable to admit that Lionel Messi is the greatest player out there.
Puyol has heaped praise on his former team-mate, and spoke out on Messi this week during a interview in the aftermath of the Argentine breaking the historic goal-scoring record of Brazil icon Pele.
Barca's former captain Puyol feels there should be no debate around Messi, given that the figures he posts and the records he breaks speak for themselves.
Puyol told Goal: 'I understand that it is difficult for a Real Madrid fan to admit that he is the best, it is an opinion like any other, but his goals are there and it is objective data.
'We have been fortunate to have been able to enjoy him for so long and the numbers are not invented by anyone but are proof that he is the best.
'Remembering the work we did together makes me feel very proud.
'I am confident that a Barcelona led by Leo will continue to win titles.
'At Barcelona he has already broken all the records and I don't know if there will be anyone who can compete with him in the future because he has set the bar very high.'
Clouds of uncertainty still very much hang over Messi's Barca future, following his failed attempt in the summer to walk away from the club.
Messi notified the Spanish giants via an official burofax that he wishes to exercise a clause in his contract and leave for free, though Barca successfully argued that this arrived past the stipulated time frame.
Messi, who will be 34 next June, was tipped to link up with Pep Guardiola again and finally enter the Premier League with Manchester City.
It remains to be seen whether Messi will extend his stay with Barca, given he can leave for free at the end of the upcoming campaign without challenge.