Phil Foden has 'world-class talent' and only one key attribute separates the Manchester City star from Lionel Messi

Phil Foden has been drawn big comparisons to Lionel Messi after an impressive performance in the Manchester derby.

Foden scored two wonderful goals for City in their 3-1 victory against the unitedreversing the score after Marcus Rashford's first goal.

That took him to 11 goals and seven assists in the Premier League this season, a new record for a 24-year-old who still has 11 games left to add.

Even better than that, however, was doing it against United, the team Foden grew up despising as a City fan.

Foden joined the club at the age of four and has risen to the top of the game, with part of his journey guided by former academy director Steve Eyre.

Explaining the one skill that makes Foden so elite, Eyre told talkSPORT: “There were so many players with world-class talent, but I've only seen Lionel Messi better in terms of the balance that differentiates it.

“Now his legs and hips have thickened. It's not that easy to knock down the ball, but if he ever hits the ground, he bounces up.

“You already have the receiving skills that he has, but now he knows how to use his arms and hips to avoid contact with defenders and basically slide towards the goal and we can see when he gets within shooting distance.

“He can improve a lot because he can continue working with the best coach in the world and continue working with the players. He has Kevin De Bruyne pass the ball to him.

“We must not forget that despite his trophy success he is only 24 years old, he lives a very balanced life and there is no PR nonsense like you see from other teams and players.”

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Eyre rates Foden above Messi and any other player in the world in one category.

And he added: “I have never seen a player so hungry for results but with the right temperament.

“He doesn't go for it, he doesn't get involved with the referees, but he is desperate to score, assist and play well.

“You can see the anguish on his face when he fails or doesn't find a teammate with a perfect pass, so the desire from within is incredible and I don't think there should be any problem in putting him in any team, especially the national team. equipment.”