Former Barcelona forward, Kevin-Prince Boateng, has admitted that he lied that Lionel Messi is the best player in the world so he can play for the Catalan club.

The former Ghana international revealed he was forced to pick the Argentine over Cristiano Ronaldo, who he always considered the best player.

Prince Boateng signed for Barcelona on loan in January 2019 as a backup striker to Luis Suarez for the last half of the season, going on to make three appearances.

He said he was told to choose Messi as the best player in the world at a presser so he can play for the Spanish giants.

"I supported Hertha Berlin where I was born and then, sorry Blaugrana, Barcelona fans will hate me now but Real Madrid," he told FIVE UK.

"I couldn't say that at the press conference because they told me you can't say that, otherwise we can't play you. Two years earlier when I was playing for Las Palmas, I said in a press conference that the best player in the world is Ronaldo and in the galaxy Messi.

"They say who is the best player in the world, you say Messi," he said, drawing a hilarious reaction from Rio Ferdinand and the crew.

"This is one of the biggest lies because I usually say the truth, but this one I had to lie because I wanted to put on the shirt for one time at Camp Nou," he added.