The Argentina star s form has been particularly impressive over the past six weeks, netting 13 times in 10 games for club and country, most recently hitting a hat-trick in Barca s 5-2 triumph over Real Mallorca.
But Ronaldinho, who spent the best part of four years as Messi s team-mate, is uneasy about suggestions the forward is the greatest to ever play the sport.
Speaking at a charity event in Mexico, Ronaldinho said: I m glad for Messi because he s a friend, aside from the fact he s been a leader of Barcelona.
I don t like comparisons because it s hard to identify who is the best in history. There s Diego Maradona, Pele, Ronaldo.
I can t say that Messi is the best ever, but he is the best in his time.
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Raul has dismissed claims he was forced out of Real Madrid two years ago, reiterating that it was his decision to leave the Santiago Bernabeu.
The 35-year-old quit the Spanish capital in 2010 after securing iconic status at the club to further his career at Schalke, where he spent two years before signing for Qatari club Al Sadd earlier this year.
His last campaign at the Santiago Bernabeu was marred by fitness problems, but the former Spain international was quick to quash the idea that he left Real on bad terms.
I spent the best years of my life there and I was lucky enough to be part of a great generation of players and to win the biggest titles, he told Al Sadd s website.
My departure from Madrid was my own choice. I had one year left on my contrac…
Harry Kewell has been named Australia s greatest-ever footballer at a gala event in Sydney on Thursday.
The former Leeds United and Liverpool attacker has appeared at two World Cups for the Socceroos (2006, 2010) and was given the honour following an extensive voting process involving fans, fellow players and pundits.
The Greatest Ever Australian Footballer awards also named the finest starting XI with current Socceroos in goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, Tim Cahill (left midfield) and defender Lucas Neill (right back) chosen.
Retired defender Craig Moore (centre back) was also named with all five featuring in the past two World Cups together.
Fan favourite Mark Viduka (striker), Kewell s former Leeds team-mate, was named as the centre forward.
Kewell,…
Serbia have added another three points to their Group 7 account with a convincing 1-3 win in Austria.
Fans at the Ernst Happel stadium of Vienna, also the venue of the Euro 2008 final in June, watched as Milos Krasic put the visiting side ahead after fifteen minutes and Milan Javanovic doubled the advantage three minutes later.
After another six minutes, Ivan Obradovic scored a third for the visitors and the match seemed everything but over.
Marc Janko did get one back with ten minutes left, but at this point it was already too late to force a come-back.
With nine points from four games, Serbia share the first position in this group with Lithuania. France follow in third place.
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Christian Pulisic can give a lot more to Chelsea than he has in his Stamford Bridge career to date, according to head coach Frank Lampard.
The United States international did not make a start in the Premier League for almost two months before an explosive performance against Burnley in October saw him score a hat-trick in a 4-2 win.
Further strikes against Watford, Ajax and Valencia followed, but Pulisic has not now registered a goal or an assist in his past four appearances.
Although Lampard has been pleased with his development, he will not let up in the demands he places on the £58million winger.
I have just mentioned there about conversion of chances. I think he gets himself in so many good positions with his talent and his dribbling ability that I …
Gonzalo Higuain has set sights on winning the Champions League with Juventus following his club-record €90million transfer.
The Argentina international completed a medical on Wednesday after signing a five-year deal with the Serie A champions.
Juve, Champions League finalists in 2015, have set about constructing a squad capable of winning Europe s top prize, signing Miralem Pjanic, Marko Pjaca, Medhi Benatia and Dani Alves before paying the third-highest transfer fee in history to sign Higuain from Napoli.
And the 28-year-old hopes to give the fans something to celebrate next season as they aim to lift the trophy for the first time since 1996.
I m experiencing some beautiful feelings today, he told Sky in Turin. I m glad to be here and I hope we have a…
Jermain Defoe is expected to be fit for Sunderland s Premier League opener despite being likely to miss the remainder of his side s pre-season campaign.
Defoe, 33, has not featured in two of Sunderland s friendlies in France after picking up a thigh injury in training.
The forward will undergo scans in the coming days to determine the extent of the problem, but first-team coach Robbie Stockdale is confident he will be back in time for the season opener against Manchester City on August 13.
Jermain picked up a little thigh strain in one of the sessions, Stockdale explained. You would do very well to get through pre-season without these little niggles so hopefully – once he s had a scan – we will be able to make an assessment.
It won t be a long …
Pepe is at a loss to explain why he was reduced to tears by Real Madrid s draining Champions League final victory over rivals Atletico Madrid in Milan.
The capital city rivals could not be separated over 120 pulsating minutes at San Siro and the subsequent penalty shootout proved too much for the experienced Portugal defender to take.
Madrid prevailed 5-3 in an unblemished performance from 12 yards, with Juanfran s effort against the base of the post from Ateti s fourth penalty paving the way for Cristiano Ronaldo to seal glory over opponents they also beat in the 2014 final.
By this stage, Pepe was somewhat tear-stained after Lucas Vazquez s opening spot kick for Zinedine Zidane s men caused him to break down.
That s hard to explain, he told Marca. I st…
Malaysian goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat is optimistic about his team s chances in this year s AFF Cup.
The Kelantan goalkeeper who is better known as Apek to supporters, admitted that this year s edition is going to be more difficult with teams gunning for revenge, but promised the fans that the team will give everything they have got to keep the title they won in 2010, in this country.
Apek believes the team can count on solid support from local football fans during the tournament and does not intend to let them down.
We have to be ready for the tougher challenge this time around but I m hopeful of keeping the title. We have to use the opportunity of playing at home to our advantage, he told local daily Harian Metro.
But we will definitely give eve…
Sevilla have announced that Luciano Vietto has completed a medical and is set to seal a move from Atletico Madrid.
The 22-year-old striker has been heavily linked with both Barcelona and the Europa League holders, though Atletico president Enrique Cerezo claimed this week that the Spanish champions had not made an offer.
Vietto is now set to complete a move to the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan and has been granted permission to train with the Sevilla first team while his transfer is finalised.
. ha pasado reconocimiento médico y tiene permiso del para entrenar con el
— Sevilla Fútbol Club (@SevillaFC)
The Argentine striker, having passed medical tests in Germany, has been given permission by Atletico Madrid to take part in training while the oper…