Barcelona star Lionel Messi hails 'phenomenal' Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo
Posted Friday, June 09, 2017 by Express.co.uk
CRISTIANO RONALDO is a phenomenal player.
Those are the words of Barcelona star Lionel Messi.
The Argentine and Real Madrid's ace often leave supporters divided over who is the best player in world football.
With the pair winning the prestigious Ballon d'Or between them for the past nine years it's easy to see why they are regarded as arch-rivals.
Add their competitiveness to be crowned the world's best player, and the rivalry between Madrid and Barca, and you can understand why the pair wouldn't be the best of friends off the pitch.
But Messi insists there is no animosity between them.
Lionel Messi was full of praise of Cristiano Ronaldo
"That thing about our rivalry is something more invented by the press than by us," Messi said to Tencent Sports.
"What we want is to do our best every year, to do the best for our teams and what is spoken from outside is not something I give importance to.
"He is a phenomenal player who has many qualities that year after year he improves and that is why he is one of the best in the world."
Cristiano Ronaldo has won back-to-back Champions League titles
Ronaldo is already said to be on track to claim his fifth Ballon d'Or that would take him level with Messi.
The Portuguese superstar has enjoyed a stellar 12 months that saw him win La Liga, the European Championships with his country, and the Champions League twice.
Messi boasted 12 more goals than his opponent in La Liga but at the end of the campaign only had Copa del Rey glory to his name.
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