Valencia striker David Villa considers Lionel Messi to be the best football player on the planet.

Messi scored a hat-trick in Barcelona's 3-0 victory over Valencia on the weekend - eliciting plaudits from all sections of the Spanish football community.

Villa, who missed the match due to injury, joined the chorus after the match.

Speaking to Sport, the ace marksman said: "When the best player in the world has his day, it is difficult to stop him."

Both Valencia and Barcelona are involved in Europe against German sides this week. Barca host Stuttgart in the second leg of their round-of-16 Champions League clash while Valencia travel to Werder Bremen in the Europa League.

Los Che face a difficult task - having been held to a 1-1 draw by the Germans in the home leg. Villa however, is bullish about his side's chances of winning the tie.

"If we think it's impossible, then we may as well stay at home but we are ready to overcome that and progress."