Celtic boss Neil Lennon has heaped praise on Barcelona, saying that they have set the bar in world football.

The Catalans have been in stunning form this season, having enjoyed a record-breaking start to their league campaign which has seen them lose just two points so far.

They did, however, go down to Lennon's men in the UEFA Champions League group stages last year, but despite this Lennon feels that the current Barca side is arguably the best team ever.

"I think Barcelona set the template. It's a dangerous template because I think a lot of managers strive to play like that," Lennon told reporters.

"I think you have to understand the culture that you're playing in.

"I think what we're seeing now in terms of the current Barcelona team and the current Spanish team, are probably the best footballing teams I've seen, ever, with Messi arguably the greatest player ever.

"So, that's what we all strive to be now. We can't all be that way, we have to cultivate our own styles."