​​Real Madrid legend Iker Casillas has hailed Lionel Messi as the greatest of all time after the Argentinean maestro's heroics against ​Atletico Madrid.


The ​Barcelona magician ​sealed a 1-0 victory in a close encounter against Los Rojiblancos at the Wanda Metropolitano when he came up with an unbelievable curling finish in the 85th minute after conjuring a one-two with Luis Suarez.


And after the game, the legendary Iker Casillas could not resist but hail Messi. The Spaniard spent many years playing with Cristiano Ronaldo when the Portuguese maestro was at Real Madrid, but was more than happy to admit that Messi is the best to ever play the game.



“Formula for football: goalkeeper 🔝 (top) & player 🐐 (GOAT). Today Barca took the three points at Wanda Metropolitano. Atletico have played well but lacked composure in front of goal. Blaugrana remain top of the league. Atletico have to fight for the Champions League zone,” Casillas tweeted, hinting that he believes Messi is the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time).


Meanwhile, after the game, Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone and players Thomas Partey and Koke also hailed Messi for his magic on the pitch.



"Because with a great goal like that, all you can do is applaud," Simeone said, as per the Evening Standard.


He continued, "The move, when the counter-attack started, had the smell of great danger. He (Messi) scored a 'golazo'. Barca handle that situation very well. And they scored a 'golazo'. When [Luis] Suarez and Messi are in a dangerous situation, they rarely fail."


Messi is expected to win a record-breaking sixth Ballon d'Or at the coveted ceremony in Paris today, with the 32-year old tipped to beat Virgil van Dijk and Cristiano Ronaldo to the greatest footballing individual accolade.