Diego Maradona has lent his support to compatriot Lionel Messi, saying rival Cristiano Ronaldo will never reach Messi's level.
Maradona, along with Pele, is widely considered to be the greatest player ever to play the game, and the 1986 World Cup winner believes Messi will win his fourth-straight Ballon d'Or for world player of the year.
"Cristiano Ronaldo will never be of Messi's level," Maradona told TVR. "Lionel doesn't need Cristiano Ronaldo's powerful shot.
"Messi just dribbles towards the goal with the ball at his feet.
"When Cristiano Ronaldo won the Ballon d'Or he told Messi 'No more second places'. Now silver is the best he can achieve."
Maradona said he was flattered by people comparing his style of play to Messi's. "I don't really like comparisons.
"Nevertheless, the comparison with Messi is a beautiful thing. We are both left-footed, Argentine, and brilliant."
Both players had brilliant campaigns last year. While Messi scored a staggering amount of goals, Ronaldo led Real Madrid to the La Liga title, as well as almost single-handedly taking Portugal to the semi-finals of Euro 2012.
However, Brazilian sensation Neymar also believes Messi deserves to win the Ballon d'Or. The Santos forward has also been compared to the Argentine wonder, but Neymar thinks there is going to be only one winner. "Me? No, the Ballon d'Or is for Messi, who is the best in the world, there is no one like him," Neymar told Mundo Deportivo.
"He will win it, he is the greatest. He comes up with new things after every match.
"Yes, yes, another Ballon d'Or for Messi. That is what there is. We all know it."
