Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo Comparison Made by Brazil Manager Tite

Brazil manager Tite has admitted he wishes he could pick Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi for his national team and said the Barcelona forward and rival Cristiano Ronaldo have very different styles and "would have destroyed rivals" had they ever played together.  

The rivalry between Brazil and Argentina is one of the fiercest in international football, but few Selecao fans would reject the idea Messi, 29, could improve their team.

Buda Mendes/Getty Images

Tite said he wished Messi had been born Brazilian and hailed the Barca star's ability to see things others do not, per AS (via MailOnline's Amitai Winehouse):

"

Yes, I would have wanted Messi to be born in Brazil. Regardless of the great rivalry between Brazil and Argentina, one only rivals who he admires. And we have an admiration for the Argentine. Messi is awesome. His creative ability is extraordinary, outside of normal patterns. He manages to see what others don't.

"

Tite, 55, also weighed into the ongoing debate over who is the better player between Messi and Ronaldo.

He was diplomatic in his response, insisting both are different players, but he did marvel at the prospect of them playing for the same team, per AS: "They're different styles—one is a scoring striker, finisher. The other is playful, creative and magical. The two on the same team would have destroyed rivals."

Messi has won everything there is to win with Barcelona at club level, but his international career has been plagued by disappointment.

Since winning an Olympic gold medal with the Albiceleste back in 2008, he has endured final defeats at the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2015 and 2016 Copas America. 

He retired from international duty following the second successive Copa final defeat on penalties to Chile back in June 2016 but reversed his decision less than two months later, per BBC Sport.

Messi should have another opportunity to win major international silverware at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, assuming Argentina qualify—they are currently fifth in the CONMEBOL standings after 12 matches.

There is also another Copa America in 2019—set to be hosted in Brazil—which, given his immense consistency, Messi should still play a huge part in for Argentina assuming he has not opted to retire again.