Rio Ferdinand has hailed Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling as one of the best five players in the world after his excellent performance in the Champions League.

The England forward struck three times in the space of 11 minutes as City came from behind to cruise past Atalanta and go five points clear in Group C.

AFP or licensors 1 Raheem Sterling celebrates after scoring a hat-trick on Tuesday

That treble took his tally to 12 goals in 13 games for City in all competitions this season, making Sterling their top scorer with two more than Sergio Aguero, who netted twice himself on Tuesday.

Former Manchester United defender Ferdinand heaped praise on the 24-year-old, saying he has to be included when mentioning the world’s top players.

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“He’s in the top five players in the world now, definitely,” Ferdinand told BT Sport. “I don’t care who you want to mention, the five top players – he’s got to be in that conversation.

“Because the amount of goals he’s getting, the effect he’s having on games. It’s impossible to keep him out.”

Asked whether he was the best player in the Premier League, Ferdinand responded: ‘I’d say yeah. I love everything about him.”

City boss Pep Guardiola was another to commend this latest all-round showing by Sterling, who became the eighth Englishman to net a Champions League hat-trick, describing him as ‘extraordinary’.

"He's in the top five players in the world now. Definitely! I don't care who you mention!!" Consistent 👌

Goals and assists ⚽️

Always learning 📈

Still only 24 years old 😳 Raheem Sterling is among the world's best according to @rioferdy5… pic.twitter.com/jSlUo5nGKi — Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 22, 2019

“His physicality is incredible,” said Guardiola. “He is strong – the day after the game, he could play another game – his regeneration is incredible.

“He can play both sides and he is fast so, defensively, he helps us a lot. He is an extraordinary, extraordinary player.”

Sterling is in the running to win this year’s Ballon d’Or and is joined on the 30-man shortlist by City team-mates Aguero, Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez.