Manuel Pellegrini has urged Sergio Aguero to prove he can challenge Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for the title of the world's best player.
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The Manchester City manager believes his top scorer is a potential Ballon d'Or winner, and told the striker it is up to him to catapult himself into the category of the recent winners from Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Pellegrini described Aguero as one of the world's top three players last autumn and thinks the 26-year-old -- who scored City's first in a 4-2 win at Hull on Saturday -- has the ability to rival the planet's finest players.
The Chilean told Champions magazine: "Aguero is among the best players in the world. Now it is up to him to make it and fight for the Ballon d'Or as best player, because he has all the qualities you can ask of a football player.
"He is technically very strong, he is fast and has a lot of power. He is very intelligent, able to play in his position in between midfield and attack."
Aguero scored 25 goals in a 23-game spell last season before injuries limited his participation in the closing months of the campaign.
And Pellegrini added: "We hope we will see Sergio back in the form he demonstrated in the Premier League before his injuries hit him. I believe he will make a difference this season."
City face Roma in the Champions League on Tuesday and Pellegrini -- who took his side into the round of 16 last season -- has set his sights on improving again this term, though is not willing to sacrifice the Premier League for better results on the continent.
He explained: "It is important to progress in the Champions League, but not by forgetting the domestic league. We won't focus all we have on the Champions League and see what happens in the Premier League.
"If we can fight for the Premier League title and get further in the Champions League that would be progress.
"But if we have to leave behind the Premier League to win the Champions League, then for me that isn't progress."