Messi Lauds Ronaldo For Goal Exploits

Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi praised
archrival Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal-scoring
prowess in an interview published Thursday as
speculation mounted that the Portuguese
international could be picked as World Player
of the Year.
A day after picking up a Golden Boot award
for scoring 46 league goals last season, more
than any other player in Europe, the 26-year-
old Messi paid respect to his Real Madrid
rival.
“I don’t know if Cristiano Ronaldo is at his
peak but he is always there scoring goals in
all the games and taking part in his club and
national side,” Messi told Spanish sports daily
Marca and other European sports journalists.
“He has been doing that for many years and
whether he is at his peak or a bit less makes
no difference.”
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi
The 28-year-old Ronaldo is emerging as a
favourite to pick up this year’s Ballon d’Or for
the world’s best player over four-time winner
Messi.
Ronaldo scored a hat-trick on Tuesday as
Portugal qualified for their fourth straight
World Cup finals and he tops the Spanish
league scoreboard so far this season with 16
goals in 13 matches.
Messi has 11 goals from eight games in the
league this season but has been sidelined for
up to eight weeks with a muscle tear in his
left hamstring muscle, his third leg injury this
season.
Messi brushed off comments in the media
about his injuries, following some criticism
that he should have paced himself better.
“What they say about the injury did not worry
me and does not worry me because I am used
to people talking and saying many things not
only about the injury but about pretty much
everything,” he said.
“I am sorry I cannot help my team-mates now
but it is an injury that heals normally and I
will be back next year keen to get started.”
The Argentine international said there was no
chance of his leaving Barcelona despite
suggestions that some clubs would be ready
to write a blank cheque to sign him.
“My intention is to stay with Barcelona for
good,” Messi said.
“I am grateful if what they say is true and
there are people interested. It makes you
proud that they say such things. But my life is
with Barcelona.”
Despite picking up four World Player of the
Year awards, three Golden Boots, and with
Barcelona a string of Liga, King’s Cup and
Champions League victories, Messi said he
still dreamed of winning the World Cup with
Argentina.
“I have had the fortune of winning all the
individual and club awards. Getting the World
Cup would be a dream for me, for my team-
mates and for a whole country that has not
won in a long time,” he said.
Argentina have big hopes, Messi said.
“We aim to arrive in top form to win the World
Cup, which is the dream for the whole of
Argentina,” he said.
Asked about Argentina’s biggest rivals, Messi
said Brazil, Germany and Spain were widely
seen as World Cup favourites, “and then there
is always a surprise team that appears”.
For the Champions League, Messi said he saw
Real Madrid and Bayern Munich as
Barcelona’s most serious challengers.