The former Spain captain retired from football at

In his prime there weren't many centre forwards that could get the better of Barcelona legend Carles Puyol but he has revealed how former team-mate Lionel Messi humiliated him during training.

The former Spain captain played alongside Messi at the Nou Camp for 10 years before calling time on his trophy-laden career at the end of the 2013-14 season as he struggled with a persistent knee injury.

And Puyol, who won six Spanish titles and three Champions Leagues with Barcelona as well as two European Championships and a World Cup with Spain, claims that Messi is by far the best player he has ever seen.

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi is currently on international duty with Argentina at the Copa America

Messi was all smiles as Argentina trained on Sunday ahead of the semi-final against Paraguay on Wednesday

Former Spain defender Carles Puyol has revealed how Messi humiliated him during Barcelona training

The 37-year-old, who was rumoured to be contemplating coming out of retirement earlier this year, has revealed that Messi would show him up on the training pitch and that he was even warned by former coach Pep Guardiola not to injure him.

'In a mini one-on-one match, I told myself: "I'm going to see if I can stop him". It was humiliating,' Puyol told La Vanguardia.

'Pep [Guardiola] told me: "Carles, don't injure him".

'I told Pep: "If you don't want anything to happen, stop the session." I tried everything but he always got past me at his own pace.'

Argentina international Messi has been named the world's best player four times and enjoyed one of his best campaigns as he led Barcelona to the domestic and European Treble last season.

Puyol said that former Barca coach Pep Guardiola had to tell him not to injure Messi in training

Former Barca skipper Puyol described Messi as an 'alien' and called him 'unstoppable'

Messi scored 58 goals in all competitions as Luis Enrique's side won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League and Puyol insists no player comes close to matching his former team-mate.

'He's head and shoulders above anyone I've seen,' Puyol added.