LIONEL Messi is better than Diego Maradona, according to Frank Lampard – who faces the Argentinian at Stamford Bridge tomorrow night.

Chelsea enter the first leg of their Champions League semi-final with most people, their own fans aside, expecting a win from the reigning European champions.

Lampard last came up against Messi in 2009 – when the Catalans went away victorious thanks to an injury-time away goal at Stamford Bridge .

Even then, Messi was considered the world's best. Now Lampard says he is even better.

"Well, he's a different player,” said the Blues midfielder. “I think he's improved. He was fantastic player then, at that stage.

"But what he's doing now, the levels he's taken his game to is something I've never seen before.

"I grew up with Maradona - he was my idol as a player - but I think he's taken it to probably further levels than him, certainly in his club football.

"To score the 70 goals he'll probably end up this season, they're crazy figures. He deserves it. "He's the best player in the world on merit. He's absolutely unbelievable."

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