Russia coach Fabio Capello has revealed that only one player has impressed him as much as three-time reigning Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi - Radamel Falcao.

Falcao's blistering start to the season has saw him score a hat trick against defending Champions League winners Chelsea, add three goals in two La Liga games for Atletico Madrid and grab a goal in each of Colombia's World Cup qualifying matches against Uruguay and Chile.

Capello, who can count AC Milan, Real Madrid, Juventus and England among his former clubs managed, has named the Atletico striker as one of the most impressive players around alongside Messi.

"Throughout my entire career, there has been only one player who impressed me as much as Messi when I first saw him against my Juventus at the Joan Gamper trophy, and that is Radamel Falcao," Capello was quoted as saying by La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"He is a fantastic striker, without a doubt the best around at the moment."

Falcao scored a phenomenal 72 goals in 87 games for former side Porto and 42 goals in 53 games for Atletico Madrid so far.