Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi praised
archrival Cristiano Ronaldo's goal-scoring
prowess in an interview published on 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."
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 teammates 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 teammates
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.

mobi.supersport.com/football/spain/news/131121/Messi_lauds_Ronaldos_goalscoring_power

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