"We all know who is the best player in the world, right? The subject of the trophies is not an issue that worries me too much.
"I already know who is the best. Who wins the Ballon d'Or, or any other award, does not bother me," the Barcelona coach said.
With Valverde clearly still in awe of Messi's talent, teammate Paulinho has also heaped praise on the Argentinian superstar in the build up to Tuesday evening's Champions League clash against Olympiakos.
He said: "It's a privilege to play with Messi, the best in the world. Playing next to him, you have to help by getting him the ball."
Having scored 11 goals in 14 games (all competitions) already this season, Messi continues to steal the spotlight in a star-studded Barcelona team. Will he find the back of the net against Olympiakos tomorrow evening? Let us know what you think in the comments.