5 reasons why Messi will not finish as LaLiga's top goalscorer

#2 Ronaldo's departure from LaLiga

Messi and Ronaldo motivated each other for nine seasons in LaLiga

Ronaldo and Messi are by far the most talented players of their generation and rightly mentioned in the greatest of all time debates.

The pair came in direct competition with one another following Ronaldo's then world record transfer to Real Madrid from Manchester United in the summer of 2009, and over the next nine years, they proceeded to give us one of the greatest rivalries in sporting history.

Ronaldo and Messi raised the bar of goalscoring to a level never seen before, as they both battled to outdo the other in their personal quest to prove who is the better of the two.

The results of their performances have been exceptional, as they have each set numerous goalscoring records, and won multiple Golden Boots in different competitions.

However, following Ronaldo's unforeseen transfer to Juventus during the last transfer window, their direct competition has been broken and with Ronaldo's departure must surely go some of Messi's motivation.

Both players have admitted in the past that their competition made them better, as it served as inspiration for each of them to strive and outdo the other's achievements.

Ronaldo is the only player in the world who can claim to be at a similar level to Lionel Messi, and his absence from LaLiga would leave Messi surrounded with players who can't light a candle to his abilities, and how this affects his drive to be LaLiga's top goalscorer remains to be seen.