Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? Only Real Madrid people really compare them – Xavi
Ex-Barcelona midfielder insists that while Ronaldo is an elite player no one should really be rating him alongside Messi
CRISTIANO RONALDO is only compared to Lionel Messi by people connected to Real Madrid.
That's the verdict of former Barcelona midfield ace Xavi.
He recognises that Ronaldo is an elite player but insists no one should really be comparing him to
Xavi, now playing for Qatari outfit Al Sadd, hails his old Barcelona teammate as the world's best player, saying:
"Lionel's mental and physical speed is second to none, he is without doubt the best in the world.
"Only a fool could have played football and not recognise Cristiano as an elite footballer, but he just has had bad luck to be around at the same time as Leo.
"The only people who draw comparisons with the two are in Madrid."
Xavi also believed that there was much more to come from the Argentine, struggling with a hamstring injury at the moment, but who he still described as having plenty of years left in his career.
"He is only a 29-year-old and that is very young in football," added Xavi.
"I did not win trophies at Barcelona and Spain until I was 28 - and Messi still makes a difference in four out of five games he plays."