The debate over who the greatest football player in the world is has been raging on for years now. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have shared the last eight FIFA Ballon’Or awards with the Argentine forward winning five compared to the Portuguese star’s three.
The two players have smashed records with Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively in La Liga and the Champions League. While Ronaldo has set a number of seemingly unbreakable records, it is has to be said that Messi has set a few such records himself.
Recently, former Barcelona captain and club legend Xavi was also asked to compare the two and the former Spain international said Messi was the better player because “Ronaldo is very fit but Messi has both the fitness as well as the intelligence” which made him the better player.
I don’t compare myself to anyone: Messi
But when Messi himself was asked to comment on the comparisons between his biggest rival on the pitch on MBC, an Egyptian television network, he refused to be drawn into the debate.
“The press looks to compare among other things,” Messi said.
“All I want is to help my team to grow each season.
“I don't compare myself to Cristiano [Ronaldo] nor to anyone. I only try to think of me, of my teammates and win games.”
On facing Real Madrid
With eight games to go in La Liga, Barcelona have a healthy nine-point lead over second-placed Atletico Madrid while Real Madrid are 10 points behind. Los Blancos can cut the gap when they face Barcelona in the Clasico on 2 April at the Camp Nou.
It is a tricky fixture for Barcelona as they play Atletico Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final just three days later while Real Madrid have an extra day off before they play Wolfsburg in a relatively easier fixture. Messi came on a substitute in the first Clasico of the season at the Santiago Bernabeu after recovering from a knee injury and he was asked about the potential humdinger of a clash.
“They have great players,” he said of Real Madrid. “They have always had impressive stars and it’s one of the best teams in the world.
“They are always a complicated rival and against them, we always find it difficult to beat them in the Spanish league. There is a lot of competition and we try to do it better.”
