Lionel Messi Beats Cristiano Ronaldo in Landslide Vote by Brazil's Top Bosses
Brazil's top club coaches have chosen Lionel Messi ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo in a poll to decide which player they would prefer to sign if given the chance, also voting the Barcelona legend as the best in the world.
Jacob Murtagh of the Mirror reported that 20 Brasilerao Serie A bosses picked the Argentina ace ahead of the Portuguese wizard, with just five managers choosing CR7.
Messi has been consigned to the sidelines in recent weeks, but he is readying himself to return to face Ronaldo in El Clasico.
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The Barcelona genius has been linked with a move away from the treble winners, but Blaugrana supremo Josep Maria Bartomeu quashed the rumours to 8TV (h/t Murtagh):
"People who say Messi is leaving Barcelona should be embarrassed.
Messi is recovering for the Madrid-Barcelona game. He is hoping to play El Clasico, but injuries have their process.
Leo and his father said they don't imagine playing at another club. The relationship with the family is very good. We are not in the negotiation phase yet, when the time comes it will be presented.
"
The 28-year-old icon had started the campaign in good form, scoring three and creating two assists in his first six La Liga appearances of 2015-16, according to WhoScored.com, but the injury has stopped him in his tracks.
Real Madrid have taken control of the summit of La Liga in Messi's absence, sitting above Barca on goal difference as Ronaldo smashes goal records across the board, taking Raul's all-time Los Blancos scoring pinnacle with his tally of 324 strikes, per ESPN FC.
The Galacticos are desperate to take the Spanish league crown after Barcelona's incredible treble success of last season, and the absence of Messi gives them a small window of advantage over their bitter rivals.
However, it seems that CR7 is ahead of Messi when it comes to financial stakes; ESPN FC report Ronaldo is ranked eighth in the Forbes list of the world's most endorsed athletes, with no place for Messi in the top 10 in terms of his brand value.
Barca fans will be excited to see their hero return when Messi is fit enough to once again tread the boards at the Camp Nou, and with the team faltering at times in his absence, he is needed for manager Luis Enrique to get the best from his squad.
Despite Ronaldo being second place in the mind of Brazil's coaches, he will allow his football to do the talking when Real clash with the Blaugrana, and he will hope to put the debate to rest with a stellar showing against his playing rival.
