Luis Suarez Claims Cristiano Ronaldo Is Fading, Insists Lionel Messi Is Superior

Barcelona striker Luis Suarez believes Cristiano Ronaldo is "not at the same level he was when he started," saying Lionel Messi is the superior player.

The Uruguayan stoked the fire of football's eternal debate during an interview with Algerian outlet Le Buteur, as quoted by the Daily Mirror (via the Daily Telegraph): "Messi is natural, it is his character. He is the best in the world but he was born with his qualities. 

"Ronaldo has progressed and worked a lot to perform how he does. He's not at the same level he was when he started. I think Leo is the best."

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Suarez was never going to suggest Ronaldo is a better player than his team-mate; however, suggesting the Portuguese star's quality is waning should be dissected.

Ronaldo has netted 42 La Liga goals this season with two matches remaining, his second-highest total to date. He has also produced 15 assists, his best-ever tally. The former Manchester United man currently trails last year's record-breaking 17 goals in the Champions League, though, having netted nine this campaign.

While Ronaldo's goalscoring ability cannot be scoffed at just yet, his overall play has proven more likely to dip this campaign. He isn't always the constant threat he once was and has a tendency to flit in and out of matches. He went three matches without scoring in March—his worst run of the season—but this wouldn't be considered a barren spell by most people's standards.

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Messi currently stands on 40 goals and 18 assists in La Liga, having notched 10 in the Champions League. His relationship with Suarez and Neymar has significantly contributed to Barca's table-topping domestic run and increased prospects of winning the Champions League. Like Ronaldo, Messi hasn't gone more than three games without scoring this campaign.

However, Messi's ability to change games in an instant has outweighed Ronaldo this season. The Argentinian's recent destruction of Bayern Munich led Barca to a 3-0 win over Pep Guardiola's side. Messi's brace was defined by his second goal, which saw him skip beyond the tumbling Jerome Boateng before chipping over Manuel Neuer, as tweeted by Copa90:

"

This is the second Messi goal. Goosebumps when this one went in... https://t.co/NdM247GnIw #Messi #FCBFCB

— Copa90 (@Copa90) May 6, 2015"

The footballing world united in praise for the 27-year-old's brilliance in the Champions League semi-final first leg, which was summed up by former Barca strikers Patrick Kluivert and Gary Lineker:

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As ever with Messi and Ronaldo, public opinion is prone to shifting when one or the other does something special.

Barca's season is likely to end in success, while Madrid must overturn a 2-1 Champions League deficit against Juventus and try to haul four points back on the Blaugrana atop La Liga. If the capital-based side were on top, Ronaldo would likely be lauded as the greatest.

However, Suarez is correct in his assertion that Messi is the more naturally gifted player. Ronaldo has been forced to work tremendously hard throughout his career to attain his physical shape, and being three years older than Messi is likely to slow him down before his rival.

Stats via WhoScored.com, unless otherwise noted.