Barcelona midfielder Sergi Roberto believes that Lionel Messi was a deserving winner of the World Cup's Golden Ball award.

The Argentina forward was a surprise recipient of the accolade for the best player at the Brazil tournament, but Roberto said that his Barca teammate was given the honour correctly.

He told reporters: "I saw Messi at the World Cup as the same as in this past year, the best in the world.

"The award is deserved and the criticism is unfair, he wanted to win the World Cup and he deserves maximum respect. He has given a lot to this club and Argentina."

Argentina were beaten in the final 1-0 by Germany.