The Argentina attacker scooped his fourth consecutive Ballon d'Or prize at the beginning of the month after a record-breaking year with the La Liga leaders, and the Spain coach believes he would be a sensation in any side in the world.

In an interview with the Spanish Football Federation, Del Bosque said: "Messi is the guy playing in the street, the one who fools everyone. He'd do great everywhere, whoever was playing at his side. He’s brilliant, period."

Del Bosque - who was named coach of the year at the Ballon d'Or gala in Zurich following La Roja's successful Euro 2012 campaign - went on to highlight host nation Brazil as the main threat to his side's World Cup crown in 2014.

"I think that the local factor has less influence now than in the past but, undoubtedly, Brazil are the major threat," he added.