Xavi names Raheem Sterling among four players who can succeed Lionel Messi as the best in the world

Xavi believes Raheem Sterling could succeed Lionel Messi as the best player in the world.

The former Barcelona maestro featured alongside Messi during some of his best years.

And the Spaniard believes that his former manager Pep Guardiola has been the perfect man to take the Manchester City star to the next level.

“You look at young players who can be crowned the future best in the world and you still think of Neymar, Mbappe, Salah, and of course Sterling,” Xavi explained in a Mirror report.

“I look at the moment – and Sterling is winning that race. He’s always been a good player, a dangerous player, but under Pep he become one of the best in the world.

“I know how Pep works – he would have worked closely with him since his arrival – where he needs to improve and what he needed to work on.

“We’re now seeing the results of that – he’s still young and can be the world’s best.”

The 24-year-old has scored six goals in six games in all competitions so far this season after hitting a career-high 25 last term.

Sterling will begin to further his case to be the best in the world as City begin their Champions League campaign on Wednesday at Shakhtar.