Adrian Durham says former Tottenham and England star Chris Waddle was the best player he’d seen live before Barcelona captain Lionel Messi

Chris Waddle was one of the world’s best players in his prime, according to talkSPORT's very own Adrian Durham.

In fact, he was so good only Lionel Messi has surpassed him, the Drivetime host believes.

Waddle started his career in non-league football before going on to play for Newcastle, Tottenham, Marseille and England in the 1980s and 90s.

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And Durham has revealed how in awe he is of the former winger, who won 62 caps for England.

Before Barcelona superstar Messi, Durham insists Waddle was the best player he had seen live.

Speaking on Tuesday's Drivetime, he said: “Well, before Messi, Chris Waddle was the best player I had ever seen live.

"At his peak, unquestionably, one of the best players in the world.

“He worked in a food processing factory seasoning sausages and playing in non-league for Tow Law Town in the early 80s. He had trials at Coventry and Sunderland but they turned him down.

“He then signed for Newcastle, played with [Kevin] Keegan and [Peter] Beardsley, and helped them to promotion...

"And then he went to Spurs where he was brilliant, and Marseille where he was sensational!

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“He won the Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year award at Sheffield Wednesday.

“I think people thought he was winding down his career, but the football writers thought he was the best player in the country in a season at Sheffield Wednesday.

“He won 62 caps for England, played at World Cups and then ended his career in non-league football. He played 60-odd games for Worksop Town.

"Chris Waddle was some player!

“I don't get nervous interviewing him... I get nervous being around him. In fact, we ended up having a drunken hug in Moscow between the two of us because I was in such awe of Chris Waddle.

"He was an incredible, incredible player.”

For all his adoration of Waddle, Durham did admit Messi has surpassed the England icon since making his debut for Barcelona in 2004 as a 17-year-old.

And it's hard to disagree with Durham's belief that Messi is the best player he has ever seen live; the Argentina legend has won 34 honours with Barcelona, scored a remarkable 724 career goals, and won six Ballon d'Or awards - more than any other player in football history!

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Watch a clip of Adrian Durham on talkSPORT, above...