Barcelona boss Luis Enrique has lavished praise on Lionel Messi after the Argentine scored a hat-trick in Tuesday's 7-0 victory over Celtic in the Champions League.

Messi was a doubt for the match due to a groin problem, but was passed fit in the build-up to kickoff and a treble from the forward helped the Catalan giants open their Group C campaign in style.

Enrique has claimed that Messi, who has now scored the most hat-tricks in Champions League history, 'would be the best player in the world in any position'.

"Messi is the best player of all time. Why? Because he plays everywhere and in any position he'd be the best in the world," Enrique told reporters.

"If he plays as a number six, he's the best number six, if he plays as a number eight, he's the best eight and if he plays as a number 10, he's the best 10, so he's given absolute freedom on the pitch.

"It would be unwise of me if I didn't utilise this quality of a player who's able to make a 40m pass to the foot of his teammate."

Neymar, Luis Suarez and Andres Iniesta were also on the scoresheet against Celtic.