Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara has claimed that Lionel Messi would score 25 times a season if he played in goal.

The 24-year-old will come up against his old teammate when the two clubs meet in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final tie this evening, and Thiago admits that there is no player in world football better than the Argentine.

"There's nothing new I can say. He's spectacular, incredible," he told The Guardian. "He's playing further from goal and he's still scored 40 in the league.

"If he played in goal he'd score 25. There's no comparison; he's the best, a competitive animal. But just because you recognise that, just because you watch him and think 'wow', doesn't mean that when he's there in front of you, you won't try to get the ball off him and play yourself."

Thiago joined Bayern in July 2013 after coming through the youth ranks at Barcelona.