Messi

Simeone states Messi-Ronaldo stance

A recording of Simeone stating his preference for Ronaldo emerged in the aftermath of Argentina's shock 3-0 loss to Croatia at the World Cup.

But the Atletico Madrid head coach has now affirmed his belief that Barcelona ace Messi is the standout of the pair, on the condition he is surrounded by top talent.

The Argentina captain, Simeone reasons, would struggle to match Ronaldo's output among lesser team-mates.

"If I had to choose between Messi and Ronaldo then most likely I would choose Messi," Simeone told reporters.

Messi worried by retirement

Messi moved to Barcelona from his home town of Rosario in Argentina as an 11-year-old, with the club's willingness to pay for expensive growth hormone treatments well-documented.

Those injections helped Messi to develop like any other child would have and, although he remained more diminutive than many of his contemporaries, his physical stature eventually stopped being a weakness and he blossomed in La Masia.

Chiellini: Kane like Messi, Ronaldo

Kane has scored at least 20 goals in the past four Premier League seasons, including netting 23 so far this campaign.

Chiellini said the England international deserved to be compared to Messi, Ronaldo and Neymar – widely regarded as the best three players in the world.

"Kane is now among the elite players in the world. Over the last years, with the goals he has scored, he has been on the level of the best," the Juve defender said, via the Mirror, ahead of his side's meeting with Tottenham in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Neymar happy to be alongside Ronaldo, Messi

Ronaldo claimed the prize ahead of Messi for the second straight year, with Neymar third – a spot Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann took in 2016.

Neymar, 25, was delighted to be considered in the same group as Real Madrid's Ronaldo and Barcelona star Messi, widely labelled two players who will go down as all-time greats.

"Congratulations to Cristiano. He deserves it and he has merit to win it," the Brazil international said.

"He is making history and that has to be respected. Both he and Messi are two figures in world football.

Ronaldo, Messi and Neymar up for top award

Ronaldo helped Real Madrid to a second consecutive Champions League title and finished as the tournament's top scorer with 12 goals earlier this year.

Messi and Neymar claimed the Spanish King's Cup with Barcelona with the former finishing as La Liga's top scorer with 37 goals last season.

Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon was shortlisted for the Best FIFA Goalkeeper award after leading the Italian club to a sixth successive Serie A title, a third-straight Italian Cup success and a runner-up finish in the Champions League.

Neymar and Messi troll Pique

On Tuesday, the Catalan giants released a statement announcing they were suing the Brazilian for what they allege to be a breach of contract following his €222million switch to Paris Saint-Germain.

Barca are hoping to recoup the sum paid to Neymar after he renewed his contract in October last year, as well as seeking €8.5m in "damages" and a further 10 per cent due to "delayed payment".

Buffon, Messi, Ronaldo up for prize

The prize, formerly called the Best Player in Europe Award, was won by Real Madrid star Ronaldo last year and has twice been given to Barcelona forward Messi.

Andres Iniesta and Franck Ribery are the only other players to have lifted the trophy.

The prize recognises the best players, regardless of nationality, playing for clubs in UEFA territories and is judged on their performances in domestic, continental and international competition.

Ronaldo: Beating Messi drives me

The 32-year-old Portugal international, who won the Ballon d'Or in January, is a firm favourite to be crowned the world's finest footballer for the fifth time following Madrid's triumphs in LaLiga and the Champions League in 2016-17.

Ronaldo and long-time rival Messi have shared the Ballon d'Or and FIFA Ballon d'Or every year since 2008 and another triumph for the former Manchester United man would see him draw level with the Barcelona great on the all-time list.

Messi and Ronaldo up for top award again

For the seventh time in eight years, the dynamic duo of Barcelona's Messi and Real Madrid's Ronaldo are expected to fill the top two places on the podium in Zurich in January for the coveted accolade of being the year's leading player.