Iniesta is the best player in the world - Sampaoli

Forget the Lionel Messi versus Cristiano Ronaldo
debate, Jorge Sampaoli claims Andres Iniesta is the
world's best. Photo Filed.

Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli believes Barcelona captain Andres
Iniesta is the best player in the world.

Iniesta has been in great form for Barca this season as the
Spanish and European champions sit atop of La Liga after
15 games.

Barca are in Japan competing at the Club World Cup and Iniesta
was instrumental in their 3-0 semi-final win over Guangzhou
Evergrande Taobao on Thursday, setting up Luis Suarez for
team's second of the match.

While the debate of the world's best is usually between the
winners of the past seven World Player of the
Year awards, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, Sampaoli
believes people are consistently overlooking Iniesta.

"Andres Iniesta is the best player in the world," he told Locura
Deportiva.

"Andres is one of the best in understanding the game, and he
powers the rest of the team.

"Messi is a complete player, and he can finish a game himself.
Or Cristiano, with different characteristics. One can name
plenty.

"Undoubtedly those complete players, like the three Barcelona
have at the moment [Messi, Neymar and Suarez], understand
each other and have a good partnership on the field, will score
183 goals and win you everything.

"But this is a rare occurrence and does not have much to do
with the manager, but the characteristics of the players that are
there.

"Andres or Xavi are players that, beyond their capabilities, have
a great understanding of the game and lift the rest of the team."

Iniesta has the chance to win his 26th piece of silverware as a
Barca player in Sunday's Club World Cup final against River
Plate.