Jermain Defoe can be a star like Lionel Messi, says Spurs team-mate Jonathan Woodgate

Jonathan Woodgate has hailed Tottenham team-mate Jermain Defoe as a world-beater and reckons he can be as big a star as Lionel Messi.

Defoe netted five second half goals on Sunday as Spurs thumped Wigan 9-1, and Woodgate went as far as to put him in the same bracket as Barcelona's Argentina star Messi

"I think Jermain Defoe is the sharpest striker, not only in the Premier League, but probably in the world," insisted the Spurs defender. "He's that sharp, he doesn't miss, he's like that in training.

"JD can do anything he wants to do. Fabio Capello seems to have a lot of faith in him and he's been outstanding. He can make a massive impact in the World Cup, without a doubt.

"Maybe he's not as well known - not than he's any less talented - as say Brazil's forwards, or Messi, or someone like that.

"That's because that's Brazil and Barcelona. Put Jermain Defoe up front for Barcelona and I'm sure he'd be well known as well."