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Irish international Aiden McGeady has got better football skills than Barcelona legend Lionel Messi - according to video game Fifa 18.

The Sunderland player is often lauded for his dribbling ability and ball control but it may surprise some that Fifa have awarded him a five-star skill rating, while five-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi was given a measly four stars.

McGeady, 31, joins an elite club including Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Paul Pogba, who also have five-star ratings.

(Image: Angel Martinez)

In his back window are Messi, 30, and fellow four-star slackers Gareth Bale, Eden Hazard and Antoine Griezmann.

It's a remarkable rise for a player who was struggling to get in his game in Championship football in recent seasons before Simon Grayson took him to Preston and then Sunderland - coinciding with a rejuvenation in his form.

(Image: Rex Features)

The Scottish-born winger has some way to catch up with Messi in the goal charts though with his 54 career goals, paling in comparison with the Argentine's tally of 526.