FILE PHOTO - Soccer Football - Barcelona news conference - UEFA Champions League - Alvalade stadium, Lisbon, Portugal - September 26, 2017. Barcelona's coach Ernesto Valverde attends a news conference. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante
BARCELONA (Reuters) - Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde paid tribute on Friday to Lionel Messi's "permanent competitiveness", after the five-times world player of the year dragged Argentina into next year's World Cup with a hat-trick against Ecuador last Tuesday.
Messi has been in free-scoring form for his club this season, hitting 11 goals in seven Liga games and 14 in all competitions.
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