Messi won the prestigious award for the fourth year in a row last month.

“Every time Messi goes on to the pitch, he invents a new thing,” Maradona told Fox Sports. “We are watching a truly exceptional player.

“It is great that Messi is being given all these awards – and I loved his suit! It is great to see that he has a personality.

“I've seen him suffer greatly in Argentina, but now everyone is behind him – even the journalists.”