Barcelona attacker Luis Suarez has stressed that his Argentine team-mate Lionel Messi is a better player than Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo.

Messi and Ronaldo have won six Ballons d'Or between them in the past six years - the former emerging victorious four times and the latter twice - and are widely regarded as the two best players around in the game at the moment.

The Portugal star has already netted 15 goals in seven La Liga appearances this term against the Barca man's seven strikes, yet Suarez believes it's the Argentine who is the better of the two irrespective of their record in 2014-15.

"In my opinion Leo is better [than Ronaldo]," Suarez was quoted as saying by Mirror.

"I train and play with Leo every day and he surprises me every day. He is unique. 

"Everybody knows what he has brought to Barcelona, what kind of world-class player he is. 

“For me he is the best player in the world for what he has already done, and he’s still so young."

Messi and Ronaldo are set to lock horns on Saturday when Madrid host Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Clasico could be Suarez's first official game in the Barca jersey after serving his four-month ban for biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup.

The Uruguayan previously featured in the friendly win over Leon for the Joan Gamper Trophy and the Barcelona B win over Indonesia Under-19, while also gaining some match rhythm wearing the Uruguay jersey earlier this month.