Barcelona star Lionel Messi has revealed that he plays online football games against strangers around the globe.

The 25-year-old, who was named the world's best player for a fourth consecutive year, has claimed that he goes up against people who are unaware that he is the Argentina international.

"I love playing PlayStation online with people who don't know who I am," The Sun quotes Messi as saying.

"You get messages in English, in Japanese, from any other language. Of course I get angry when I lose but I just disconnect and that's it."

The prolific frontman scored his 42nd goal of the season during Barca's 3-1 victory Rayo Vallecano yesterday.