Rio Ferdinand pinpoints the main difference between world-beaters Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo

RIO FERDINAND has delivered his verdict on the difference between world-beaters Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The former England centre-half played with Real Madrid maestro Ronaldo at Manchester United.

And he's watched Barcelona magician Messi bamboozle defenders the world over for the past few years.

Ferdinand told  "The difference between them is that Cristiano goes out there and just says 'give me the ball in areas where I can score a goal' - he's a goalscorer.

"Ronaldo is not bothered about being on the halfway line and the rhythm of the game, he wants to be on the knife edge of the game.

"Whereas Messi, you sometimes see him in the defensive midfielder position, picking up the ball, playing one-twos, just playing with the opposition and biding his time.

"He's involved in the rhythm of the game constantly and that's the difference between the two players."

Messi single-handedly put Chelsea to the sword in the Champions League on Wednesday.

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The Spanish giants strolled to a 3-0 victory for a 4-1 aggregate win.

He nutmegged Blues' keeper Thibaut Courtois within three minutes before setting up Ousmane Dembele to score in a dominant first half performance.