Lionel Messi has labelled Tottenham defender Cristian Romero as the best defender in the world currently after Argentina beat Ecuador 1-0 in a World Cup qualifying match.

The Inter Miami star, who has unsurprisingly taken to MLS with aplomb, once more showed just why so many are calling for him to be the Ballon d'Or winner in 2023 for what would be a staggering eighth time. Messi's 78th minute free-kick, his third from a direct dead ball in the space of a month, was enough to bypass Ecuador, who fielded new Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo.

It means that Argentina now top the South American group after matchday one, though other sides are yet to play. It also continues their form since winning the world cup. As well as scoring seven times in the competition alone, Messi now has six in the four games to follow, matches that his country have won by a combined 12-0 scoreline.

They continue go from strength-to-strength, as does reinvigorated Spurs defender, Romero. Starting alongside former Manchester City ace Nicolas Otamendi and with Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez and new Liverpool keystone Alexis Mac Allister part of a world class midfield ahead of them, Romeo shut out any threat coming his way.

The 25-year-old made seven tackles, winning seven of his eight duels, over 60% of his aerial battles and completed 99% of his passes. It's the sort of form that has anchored Ange Postecoglou's defence in the opening four games. Alongside Micky van de Ven, Tottenham have played slick football from the back as well as looking resolute when needed.

Proof of his development is that so far this season he is yet to commit a foul for his club. Compare that to the booking happy player that fans saw in north London for much of last season, it's quite the feat. Romero made 42 fouls last year, nearly two per90 that he played, and picked up 11 cards.

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However, Messi has seen his development and key role for both club and country and was full of praise for Romero. "For me, he is the best defender in the world right now," the 36-year-old said at full-time. "Amazing performance tonight, man of the match."

It's not the first time that Messi has publicly come out to shine the light on Romero either. Speaking in the Netflix documentary Sean Eternos: Campeones de America, Messi said: "Cuti’s appearance was extraordinary for us, for the future of the team and for that moment."

During the tournament he also added: "Tough one, I always say we were all on top form. If I had to single out someone today, [Nicolas] Otamendi and Cuti Romero have been impressive.

"They have been key players in each match. Once again, their defence was impressive. But everyone deserved it because we gave it our all.

"But if I have to single someone out, they have been putting in a lot of effort to win since the start of the World Cup."

On the flip side, Romero has also heaped nice words back towards Messi, saying after the Ecuador win: "Ecuador were strong at the back and tried to exploit any mistakes we made. But then, the greatest player in the world appeared and opened the game up, after that, things got easier."

It's not the first time he has been open about his admiration for Messi, also saying earlier this year: "Anyone who really knows about football knows there is no player like him but what I will always remember is the kind of person he was with me.

"The moments we had with the national team, how he was with me on my first day, showing humility, drinking mate, all that makes him even greater."

It is Messi, for his free-kick, that has taken most of the plaudits for the game and will continue to with goals of the standard he has been scoring since leaving Paris Saint-Germain to light up America. Across 11 games for Inter Miami he has already got 11 goals and five assists, often coming from the bencht to make an impact as well.

Romero, however, has been one of the big redemption stories so far as Tottenham impress in their new era.