Messi: I voted for Mane because he is a player I love to watch Barcelona For FIFA's The Best award

Lionel Messi admitted to being a big fan of Sadio Mane after it was revealed that he voted for the Liverpool forward in FIFA's The Best award.

The pair faced each other in last season's Champions League semi-final which Liverpool went on to progress to, and win, the final.

"There are many great players and therefore it was difficult to choose.

"But I selected [Mane] because he's a player I love to watch, he had a great year and was very important in the achievements of Liverpool," he explained to Canal+.

Messi voted Cristiano Ronaldo second, and club teammate Frenkie de Jong third yet it was the Argentine himself who ended up winning the award.