Argentina superstar Lionel Messi feels that, man for man, there are no better teams at the World Cup than Diego Maradona's men.

Argentina, world champions in 1978 and 1986, were far from impressive in qualifying for South Africa and not considered one of the main favourites to claim the title this summer.

However, Messi was warned against underestimating his side, saying in Clarin: "Player for player, there is no better national team than ours".

Messi, the reigning FIFA World Player of the Year, has enjoyed another phenomenal year at club side Barcelona, winning the European Golden Boot with his 34 Primera Division goals and also finishing as the leading scorer in the Champions League for the second successive year with a further eight.

Much is now expected of the 22-year-old in the World Cup, but Messi has shrugged that off, saying: "At this stage I don't have to prove anything. I've come there to do things well for me and for my team-mates."