MANCHESTER -- Manuel Pellegrini believes Sergio Aguero is among the best players in the world despite being snubbed for the Premier League Player of the Year shortlist.
The Argentina striker trails Leicester City's Jamie Vardy and Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane by one goal in the race for the Golden Boot this season despite playing seven fewer games.
Aguero has scored 99 Premier League goals since joining City in 2011 -- more than any other player in that time -- but has never even made the team of the year.
And Pellegrini says he cannot understand why the 27-year-old has been overlooked for the top award in his five seasons with the club.
The City boss told a news conference: "I don't vote so it's difficult for me to know why in five years he's never been the best player.
"I don't know who chooses the best players, what the different reasons might be. In other seasons, maybe people didn't vote for him because of the injuries. But he's demonstrated in every game that he deserves to be in.
"I think that this year he is just one two behind Kane and Vardy so he is fighting to be the top scorer in this year also. And the way that he is playing, especially the last game [a hat-trick in the 3-0 win over Chelsea], I am sure that it will be difficult for the other strikers to keep up with his performances.
"It's important for all players to get awards for their work. But the important thing is what you do as a team and to be as near to the top of the table as we can but the minimum is a Champions League spot for next season.
"And we must try to reach the final of the Champions League because that would be very important for the players and the club."
Pellegrini believes that if he can keep fit, Aguero is close to being as good as Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
He added: "If he continues scoring three goals every game, he'd be very near them. The most important thing for him is to keep in the same way he's been doing this season and not to have important injuries for a long time.
"If he plays around 29-30 games this season, with just one injury which was with the national squad -- I think that's important if he's going to be among the top players."
Aguero has the chance to score his 100th Premier League goal for City in Tuesday night's clash with Newcastle United as City bid to strengthen their grip on a Champions League place for next season.
The striker has seven goals in his last six Premier League games and has scored 10 times against the Magpies, including five in the 6-1 victory at the Etihad in October.