• ‘I watched two PSG games just to see him play’ • Cantona says Catalonia won 2010 World Cup, not Spain

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

The former Manchester United and France striker Eric Cantona has revealed a surprising choice for the player he rates as the best in the world – Paris Saint-Germain’s Javier Pastore.

Cantona, who won four titles during his spell at Old Trafford and came third in the Ballon d’Or in 1993 behind Roberto Baggio and Dennis Bergkamp, was speaking ahead of the Laureus Sports Awards, which take place in Shanghai on Wednesday.

And rather than opting for the current Ballon d’Or holder Cristiano Ronaldo or four-times winner Lionel Messi, the 48-year-old instead plumped for the Argentina forward Pastore, who he described as “the most creative player” in the world.

“For me, the best player in the world is Javier Pastore,” said Cantona. “I watched two PSG games just to see him play. For me, he is the most creative player at the moment. Pastore is full of surprises. I love this kind of player.”

Pastore, who joined PSG from Palermo in 2011 for a reported €39.8m, is likely to come up against Messi’s Barcelona in Wednesday night’s Champions League quarter-final firtst leg. The 25-year-old has three goals and five assists this season.

Meanwhile, Cantona also courted controversy by suggesting that Spain’s World Cup triumph in 2010 was only down to the influence of Barcelona on the national team.

“Catalonia won the World Cup,” he said. “Spain won it with 10 Barcelona players in the team. Spain did not win the World Cup, Catalonia did. Barcelona won it.

“I’m sure that as soon as the youth set-up from Barcelona and other Spanish teams draw new, good players, Spain will emerge again.”