Barcelona star Lionel Messi may be the world’s best but he is ‘not invincible’, according to Chelsea forward Pedro.

Pedro spent eight seasons playing alongside Messi at Camp Nou, but he faces the Argentina international when Chelsea host Barca in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday.

While the Spain international praised Messi, he hopes his teammates can find a way to stop the 30-year-old – who has failed to score in eight games against Chelsea.

‘Messi is the best player in the world, but he’s not invincible,’ Pedro told UK newspapers.

‘Obviously, it’s Barcelona. It’s Leo Messi. It’s very difficult to stop this guy because he’s very quick, very clever. But, look, it’s not impossible.

‘He’s on another level. No one can do what he does. For this reason, to have played with him is special. Special for me, and something to tell my sons in the future because, probably, he’ll be considered the best in history.’

Chelsea stunned Barcelona in the semi-finals in 2011-12, on the way to their only Champions League crown.

Pedro, who headed to Stamford Bridge in 2015, said he still remembers the tie that the Premier League outfit won 3-2 on aggregate.

‘I remember these games so well. Chelsea were always horrible opponents, very difficult in these games: compact, strong in defence, pressed very well,’ he said.

‘For that reason, we always found it difficult against them.

‘For the players of Barcelona, they’ll be thinking this tie is going to be very tough, this game for them, because Chelsea are strong. Chelsea are compact, and it’s never easy to play against us.’

-This story originally appeared on FourFourTwo.co.za