Cristiano Ronaldo Taunted by Luis Enrique in Lionel Messi Comparison
Barcelona boss Luis Enrique believes Cristiano Ronaldo remains "a step beneath" Lionel Messi despite Ronaldo comfortably winning this season's Ballon d'Or.
Enrique admits the two La Liga stars are the best players on the planet but is adamant his Blaugrana forward deserves to be recognised as the greatest, reported by Heath Chesters of Inside Spanish Football.
"I don’t think there have been any better players than Cristiano or Messi," Enrique said. "Not in my era or any before. I’ve always said that the best player I’ve ever seen, without any doubt, is Leo Messi. Cristiano is a step beneath."
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The Barca manager spoke ahead of his side's Copa del Rey quarter-final first-leg tie against Atletico Madrid, a match that could see Messi extend his terrific goalscoring form on Wednesday. The Argentinian has racked up five goals in four matches since the start of 2015, per WhoScored, responding to missing out on the Ballon d'Or in the best way possible.
Enrique's Barca affiliation is always going to see him prefer Messi, particularly as the 27-year-old remains key to the club's chances of success. Recent reports suggested he and Messi had suffered a falling out—a situation denied by the latter, per Barca TV (h/t Dermot Corrigan of ESPN FC)—so it's not surprising to see the former Camp Nou captain praise his star.
Carlo Ancelotti has done the same for Ronaldo, saying he "is the best player I have coached in my career," reported by Dermot Corrigan of ESPN FC.
Former Barca and Argentina coach Cesar Luis Menotti believes Messi deserves to be outlined as the best, despite it being the correct call for Ronaldo to win this year's individual accolade. His comments were reported by Sport (h/t Peter McVitie and Chris Myson of Goal): "I still believe that Messi is the best in the world. He has a special magic and he participates more in the team's play than Ronaldo does. Giving Ronaldo the Ballon d'Or this year was right, but I wish Manuel Neuer had won it because of the message it would have sent."
Last year's stats proved there continues to be little between the pair, per Sky Sports:
B/R UK's Janusz Michallik considered whether Ronaldo deserved to win his third overall Ballon d'Or prize:
Ronaldo himself recently suggested Messi's quality has forced him to improve. The Portuguese icon insists such competition is healthy, causing both to be the best they possibly can. Ronaldo spoke to France Football (h/t Marca):
"Maybe Messi also plays a part in motivating me, the same way other players make you raise your game because you're working at being better than them. Any kind of competition adds to my motivation.
I'm sure the competition we provide motivates him as well. It's good for him, for me, and for other players who want to develop. Messi has four Ballons d'Or and I've got three. All of this is positive for the world of football.
"
Ultimately, it is the performances of both that are likely to define this year's La Liga title. Barca are currently one point behind Real Madrid, who have a game to spare, meaning Messi will be key to any fightback at the top.
This season's second league Clasico arrives on March 22, a date which could further strengthen Enrique's claim that Messi is the generation's defining player.
