Real Madrid star, Cristiano Ronaldo, believes he is a better player than Barcelona rival, Lionel Messi.
The pair – widely considered the best players of their generation – have won the past seven Ballon d’Ors between them, with Ronaldo picking up his second in a row and third in January.
Messi, however, could have the edge when the award is handed out early next year after winning the treble with Barca in 2014/15.
Ronaldo told El Pais:”It doesn’t bother me.
“If you look back over my past eight years, I’ve always been at the peak; and that is difficult. Name me someone else who has done it? After that, being No.1 or No.2 is a matter of small details, such as if you win trophies or not.
“Perhaps for you, Messi is the best; in my head, I am the best – and everyone should think that about ourselves. That is why I have been able to achieve so much in my career.
“It was hard for me to watch Messi picking up several Ballon d’Ors. I’d be thinking, ‘Why should I go to the gala?’”
Meanwhile Paris Saint Germain legend, Pauleta, has urged Ronaldo to swap Madrid for Paris to team-up with the French champions.
The 30-year-old is tied down to the Santiago Bernabeu until 2018, although has been non-committal on his future at the club and his countryman feels a move to France would suit him.
He told Radio Marca: “PSG deserves to have a player of Cristiano Ronaldo’s quality. It would be a good place for him to play for two or three seasons.”
