Argentine legend Diego Maradona has once again waded into the debate over who is the best footballer in the world, unsurprisingly lending his support to compatriot Lionel Messi.

Regarded as one of the all-time greats himself, Maradona began his career in 1976, and hung his boots up over two decades later after spells with Barcelona, Napoli and Sevilla in Europe. He also led his country to World Cup glory in 1986.

Messi has followed in the legendary footsteps of his former national team manager with a move to the Nou Camp, and is already Barca’s record goalscorer after just eight years in Catalonia.

Hear him, "[Cristiano] might have a more powerful shot, but Messi doesn't need that because he goes right into the area with the ball and everything. I shall never speak ill of Messi, because I know him. Messi scores a goal and shouts out for joy. Cristiano scores a goal and stops dead as if he was doing a shampoo commercial.

“We are both left-handed, both Argentinean, and we are both stars. You'll never get me to say anything bad about Messi."

Unlike Messi, Portuguese winger Ronaldo has played for a number of clubs in his career thus far, with Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United and now Real Madrid all enjoying the luxury of having such a player in their side.

At 27, the £80 million-man is slightly older than his rival, who has won the FIFA Ballon d’Or three times in comparison to Ronaldo’s solitary win in 2008.