Back to the Top News Newsfeed

Ronaldo has better abs but Clemente says Messi is ahead of everyone

He may be the Ballon d'Or winner with an impeccable physique but the Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo should be happy and proud to be second in the world to superior Barcelona rival Lionel Messi, according to Javier Clemente.

Debate over who is the best footballer in the world has intensified since Ronaldo regained the 2016 Ballon d'Or from five-time winner Messi in December, leaving the Portugal captain one behind the Argentina skipper in football's most coveted individual award.

Former Spain head coach Clemente, who enjoyed spells in charge of Athletic Bilbao, Atletico Madrid and Espanyol among others, weighed into the debate and was forthright in his views, claiming while Ronaldo boasts better abdominal muscles, he simply cannot compete with the natural talent of Messi.