Cantona names world's best player - and it's not Messi or Ronaldo

Former Manchester United forward Eric Cantona has revealed who he thinks is the best player in the world - and it isn't either Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.

Cantona believes Paris Saint-Germain's Argentina midfielder Javier Pastore, who was not even on the 23-man shortlist for this year's Ballon d'Or, deserves to be recognised as the greatest on the planet. 

The Frenchman, speaking at a press conference ahead of the Laureus Sports Awards in Shanghai, said: "For me, today, the best player in the world, the most exciting player in the world, is Pastore from Paris St Germain. Why? Because I watched two games just to see Pastore playing, giving passes.

"He has got something special. Because football is interactive. It's why footballer is so popular, I think. And Pastore can do things that the other ones don't know.

"It's interactive but he does things that surprise you every time. Not only in scoring goals, spectacular goals - everything. Just passing. Passing. He's a very creative player.

"He's the most creative player, I think, in the world today. It's why I think he's the best player in the world, because I love this kind of player."