'It is impossible!' - Lionel Messi comparisons played down by Leicester starlet Facundo Buonanotte despite Carlos Tevez endorsement

Buonanotte has been shining with Leicester in the Premier League after signing on a season-long loan from Brighton. The 19-year-old has three goals and two assists in eight Premier League appearances for the Foxes and is certainly enhancing his reputation as one of the game's most exciting young talents during his stay at the King Power Stadium.

Buonanotte moved to England after coming through the youth system at Rosario where he worked under former Manchester City striker Tevez. The Argentine, who played alongside Messi during his international career, once said the youngster "reminded him" of the World Cup winner and described the teenager as having "no ceiling." That comparison has now been put to the Leicester starlet who was quick to shrug off such talk but did make it clear just how much he admires the Inter Miami superstar.

He told the Telegraph: "No, it is impossible. He was my idol growing up, my absolute hero. I’m only 19 and he was playing many huge derbies for Barcelona against Real Madrid by then. It was great of Tevez to say that and I think maybe he was referring more to my speed and acceleration off the mark. It went viral and exploded everywhere, but it would be a lack of respect towards Messi to make a direct comparison. At the age of 37, he’s still the best player in the world. He’s going to still be performing like this for a long time to come.”

Buonanotte has featured alongside Messi for the Argentina national team and admitted he was amazed by the skipper's latest performance: "I was on the bench when he scored his hat-trick against Bolivia [in a 6-0 win]. I was between [Giovani] Lo Celso and Rodrigo De Paul and we just sat there laughing like schoolkids. He has that effect on all of us, whatever the age. He’s just incredible.”

Leicester will be hoping that Buonanotte can maintain his early-season form and help to keep the Foxes in the Premier League. The teenager will also hope to be reunited again with Messi later this month when Argentina face Paraguay and Peru in World Cup qualifying.