Cristiano Ronaldo is NOT on Lionel Messi's level for one reason - Juanfran
Posted Saturday, November 17, 2018 by Express.co.uk
Cristiano Ronaldo: Juventus star's rivalry with Lionel Messi has been discussed (Image: GETTY)
CRISTIANO RONALDO is not as good as Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, Atletico Madrid ace Juanfran has claimed of the Juventus talisman.
Cristiano Ronaldo has left his rivalry with Barcelona star Messi behind, choosing to leave Real Madrid for Juventus back in July in a £105million transfer.
The 33-year-old spent nine successful years at the Bernabeu, propelling the club to three straight Champions League titles and two La Liga crowns along the way.
Ronaldo and Lionel Messi’s rivalry remains fascinating, however, with both men in contention to win the prestigious Ballon d’Or award.
Kaka, who won the 2007 Champions League with AC Milan, was the last player outside of the duo to win the prize.
And Atletico stalwart Juanfran, who has faced off against Ronaldo and Messi, rates the Barcelona star higher - because he offers more.
"For me, Messi is the best, I've always said it," he said.
"He and Cristiano have marked differences, but Leo has always had a little more. I respect him very much."
Juanfran also opened up on Messi and Neymar.
The duo were once team-mates at Barcelona before the Brazilian jumped ship to PSG in the summer of 2017.
And Juanfran believes Neymar’s play-acting holds him back.
"On the field you can kick him, he doesn't complain much,” he said of Messi.
“Neymar, on the other hand, is the opposite of Messi."
Ronaldo and Messi stats this season:
All competitions (Messi 14 goals, Ronaldo nine goals).
League (Messi nine goals, Ronaldo eight goals).
Champions League (Messi five goals, Ronaldo one goal).
Other cups (Messi one assist from one match, Ronaldo no appearances).
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