Brendan Rodgers believes Luis Suarez deserves to win the Ballon d'Or

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers believes Luis Suarez deserves to win the Ballon d'Or this year ahead of Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi.

Suarez has been included on the 30-man shortlist for the award and is one of the favourites to take the title after scoring 59 goals in 53 games for the La Liga champions last season.

Rodgers, who managed Suarez during his time in charge of Liverpool, is set to face his former player on Wednesday night when Celtic take on Barcelona in the Champions League.

And the former Reds boss believes the Uruguayan deserves to win football's top individual prize for the first time, ahead of previous winners Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Suarez is one of the favourites to win the award along with team-mates Neymar and Lionel Messi and Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo

"If you're talking about the Ballon d'Or and the last year then I don't think there's been any player better than Luis Suarez," said Rodgers.

Rodgers worked with Suarez during his time in charge of Liverpool

"In terms of that award, I think he would be very deserving of it in terms of how he's played, what he's given the team, how he's carried the team and the level that he's played at consistently.

"But listen, Lionel Messi is a player that I've admired since I saw him as a young player, a teenager. I've seen him come into the team at 16,17 and the last ten years he's been remarkable.

Celtic face Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday night

"His quality and just the things he's done in the game are magical. I've had the fortune to work with Luis so I know first-hand his qualities but they're both brilliant players."

Barcelona visit Celtic in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

See Luis Suarez play as a goalkeeper while training with Uruguay... but he still manages to score See Luis Suarez play as a goalkeeper while training with Uruguay... but he still manages to score

The Hoops need to record a shock victory over the five-time European champions in order to keep alive their hopes of progressing to the knockout stage of the competition.

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