Arsene Wenger: Messi won't be happy with Ronaldo's goals

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said that Lionel Messi will eventually feel demoralized in the long run by Cristiano Ronaldo’s superb run of form who has been scoring goals at a stupendous rate this season.

While the Real Madrid forward has maintained his impressive feats, Messi’s numbers have decreased this campaign when compared to the previous seasons. The Barcelona star has scored 11 goals in all competitions so far which is less than half of his adversary Ronaldo’s total, who has 25 goals.

The Argentine’s role under new manager Luis Enrique has changed significantly as he has been deployed in a wider role and often just behind the forward line as a playmaker. But Wenger believes that the big goal-scoring difference between him and Ronaldo will make matters worse and it will hurt him eventually.

"When Messi sees that Ronaldo has scored so many more goals than him, it will play on his morale," he told BeIn Sport.

"On the wings, he cannot maintain his goal average. In the long term, he won't be happy.

"The best player in the team has a power within the club. He can make the coach better if there is chemistry between them. So, if his position doesn't suit him, it weakens the team as whole," he concluded.

Real Madrid are currently at the top of the La Liga table two points ahead of second place Barcelona. They resume their season against Eibar away from home while Barcelona host Sevilla at the Camp Nou on Saturday.