TO watch the world’s greatest footballer in the flesh you would have to travel to Barcelona.

To see his non-league equivalent, you only need to look as far as Bromsgrove.

Bromsgrove Sporting star Jason Cowley has impressed for the Rouslers this season as Paul Smith’s side close in on an impressive Midland Football League Division 1 title.

And his antics have even caught the eye of Sky Sports show Soccer AM, who likened him to Barcelona star and five-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi.

The show tweeted a video of Cowley scoring in the 10-0 rout over Pelsall Villa on April 1, evading the challenges of four defenders – and the goalkeeper – to walk the ball in the net.

In a tongue-in-cheek post on Twitter, the show added: “When you are the non-league Messi, you don’t even need to shoot.”

Cowley made history in January as he became the first ever Bromsgrove Sporting player to sign a contract with the club, penning a deal until the end of the 2017/18 season.

Who needs Messi when you have Cowley in your ranks?