I played with the GOAT Lionel Messi, but magic Ronaldinho was something different

The 32-year-old forward recently hung up his boots but enjoyed the sort of playing career that many can only dream of having represented Roma, AC Milan, Ajax and Stoke City.

Regarded as one of the most talented players to come through the La Masia academy, Bojan went on to make 162 appearances for Barcelona, scoring 41 goals before leaving the club in 2011.

Admitting he was blessed to play alongside stars including Messi, Xavi, Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta and Gerard Pique, Bojan admitted that he was most starstruck when playing alongside his idol, Ronaldinho.

Speaking to Andy Goldstein and Darren Bent on Drive, Bojan said: "I looked up to everyone. I remember Ronaldinho especially because for me, Ronaldinho is the best player that I saw as a fan and that I played with in my football career. Ronaldinho probably was the most special player that I played with.

Asked if he puts him above Messi, Bojan said: "It's difficult, I don't like to compare.

"Obviously Messi is unbelievable, especially through all the years that he played, and he's still playing and winning all the trophies that he achieved already.

"He's unbelievable, but Ronaldinho was something different. For me, he was special, magic - the way that he played football, the way that he could do it on the field with a smile on his face."

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Asked if Ronaldinho was the greatest player of all-time, Bojan said: "It's difficult to say this, I don't think so. Probably it's Messi because Messi is playing fantastic football over 20 years which is something unbelievable.

"But Ronaldinho played probably two or three years at the top level, but for those two or three years he was unstoppable."

Discussing his fond memories of the Barcelona academy, Bojan said: "At that time I was 17 years old and I was just dreaming every day. I couldn't believe that when I woke up in the morning I was going to the training ground and sharing a dressing room with these kinds of players and these kind of humans.

"I was learning from them every single day, on and off the pitch, so for me it was a privilege and something really special.

"I think that Barcelona is one of the best clubs in the world and they believe in the young players who come from the academy.

"In the academy the philosophy of the Barcelona club is to play football and enjoy playing with the ball, not much running or gym sessions - you know, they build the players in this way.

"A lot of these players they are already the best players in the world and for this we can probably say that Barcelona's academy is special."