Monaco midfielder Cesc Fabregas claimed that finding another player like Lionel Messi is impossible.

The pair shared the pitch at Barcelona and have remained close friends ever since. Fabregas declared the Argentine as one of a kind when asked if there will be another such player in the future.

“I think that’s probably impossible,” Fabregas told AS.

“We’ve seen the likes of Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, amazing players, but Messi has been the best for 15 years. He’s in his 17th season and he’s been the best since he was 18 years old.

“I’ve seen things you wouldn’t believe. Every three days he scores goals, he heads off to play for Argentina, he comes back jet-lagged and scores a hat-trick… that’s not normal, believe me.

“I would have liked to enjoy playing more with Leo. I had a bit of bad luck in that respect. The first season we had together we had a great understanding. But the two following seasons was when I had my worst time with injuries. I wasn’t at my best at key moments and that affected everyone, including Leo.”

However, Fabregas admitted that Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe could reach great heights, given his potential. He backed the former Monaco forward to become the best in the world.

“He’s a phenomenon. He’s clearly going to be the best player in the world in the future,” Fabregas said of the striker.

“I always think like a midfielder and if I had him in front of me I’d be giving him assists all the time because he’s so fast, explosive, but he’s also very clever in slipping his markers.

“He has his timing down perfectly. [Thierry] Henry and Diego Costa were also brilliant at that. The thing that stands out about Mbappe is that he’s so hungry, he knows how to exploit his ability.”