The world #2 in the FTBL ranking of midfielders, Barcelona’s Argentine prodigy Lionel Messi (pictured), added excitement to the battle for the top spot with a goal in the Catalans’ 6:1 demolition of Real Zaragoza in La Liga last Sunday.

The Argentina international boosted his overall FTBL rating to 176.36 points, keeping tabs on the current leader, Chelsea’s Frank Lampard, whose rating soared to 180.91 points after the Blues’ 5:1 drubbing of Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League last Saturday.

Lampard will retain a slight edge in the coming game with a plank of just 0.95 rating points to beat, while Messi will have to clear at least 12 rating points to advance.