Barcelona striker Lionel Messi praised his eternal opponent in the fight for the title of the best football player of the planet Cristiano Ronaldo.

Lionel Messi and Realer Cristiano Ronaldo won the last 9 Golden Balls (5 for the Barcelona player and 4 for the Portuguese). With a high degree of probability, the best player in 2017 is recognized as Ronaldo.

Messi assured that only happy with the presence of such a strong competitor.

"I've always said this - that our struggle only helps. The same thing repeated and Ronaldo, "- said Messi Tencent Sport.

"Every year we try to reach the maximum heights for our teams, and what is said outside - I do not consider it important. Ronaldo - a phenomenal player, a very high-quality football player. The whole planet knows that he is one of the best players in the world ".

In this season, Lionel Messi won the race of La Liga's scorers and the Spanish Cup with Barcelona, ??and Ronaldo with Real Madrid won the championship and the second Champions League row. Double in the final of the Champions League helped the Portuguese to become the best scorer of the tournament, ahead of 1 goal just Messi.