Published on 10:35 AM, December 24, 2015

Messi, Suarez and Neymar the best Barcelona attack in history: Villa

Luis Suarez (L) celebrates his goal with Lionel Messi and Neymar (top) during the Club World Cup football final against River Plate in Yokohama on December 20, 2015. Photo: AFP

Barcelona's forward line of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar is the best in the history of the club, according to David Villa.

Spain's all-time top goalscorer Villa lifted La Liga, the Champions League and the Club World Cup alongside Messi while playing with Pep Guardiola's Barca in 2011. 

The 34-year-old has lauded the Catalans' current treble-winning forward line as the greatest ever due to their individual and collective brilliance.

Messi has starred in numerous frontlines alongside other stars of world football, earlier winning a treble with Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto'o at his side in 2009.

However, Villa has little doubt that Messi, Suarez and Neymar - who have inspired Luis Enrique's side to five trophies in 2015 - must be regarded as the finest forward line Camp Nou has seen.

"Without a doubt, it's the best trident in Barca's history," he said, as quoted by Sport. "It's undoubtedly the best.

"The numbers speak for themselves. You only have to analyse them: they're brutal, individually and collectively.

"[But] I can say I was part of one of the best forward lines that the club has had."

Villa, now with MLS outfit New York City, praised the work of Enrique in the past year, success previously unimaginable given  the pressure on his position 12 months ago.

"When he arrived, the team started with ups and downs, with criticism coming from everywhere and in the end Barca won everything again," the 34-year-old added.

Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi and Neymar da Silva Santos Junior celebrate with the trophy after winning the UEFA Champions League final. Photo: AFP File