Lionel Messi would be one of the "best defenders in the world" had the Argentina icon opted to spend his career at the back, says Javier Mascherano.

Lionel Messi would be one of the "best defenders in the world" had the Argentina icon opted to spend his career at the back, says Javier Mascherano.

"If Messi were a defender, he would perhaps be one of the best defenders in the world," he said in an interview for Shoot for Love. "It is impossible to get past him. Sometimes, at Barcelona we played one on one and it was impossible to get past him.

"We had no chance against him. Sometimes, attackers know how to defend. Leo defended very well. He was very fast and when you tried to dribble past him it was impossible."

Mascherano and Messi played together for eight years at Barcelona and were in the national team together for 13, and the ex-Liverpool midfielder has given another story to sum up the Inter Miami hero's magic.

"In Barcelona we did a short tournament in a training session with three teams: five victories and you were the champion," he said. "He decided to end the training session early, so he scored five goals for the team to win and the training session ended."

The 37-year-old has scored 17 goals in 18 MLS matches for Inter Miami this season. Before he returns to action in the United States, though, he will feature in Argentina's World Cup qualifying match against Venezuela.