Deco predicts Messi and Barcelona will win the Champions League

He was part of the Barcelona side that won the Champions League in 2005-06 and, now retired, he has predicted that his ex-club will once again win Europe's elite competition. He says that Barcelona are favourites to win this year for one reason: Lionel Messi.

"When you have Leo Messi, you have an advantage that other teams don't have. Therefore they are one of the favourites," he said in an interview with 'Sport'. He went on to speak of Messi more, and heaped praise on his ex-teammate.

"I don't think that Lionel Messi thinks he is the best, all he wants to do is play and win for his team, and do that well. It's not easy to spend eight years at such a high level, always scoring, providing assists, being important, and because of this he is different," he concluded.