The Barcelona star and Real Madrid talisman have both been named in the final three for the 2014 Ballon d’Or alongside Bayern Munich and Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
And Messi’s former Barca team-mate insists that the Argentina captain is the better of La Liga’s superstars.
“We players asked [then Barca coach] Frank Rijkaard to bring Messi into the first team’s training sessions,” he told El Enganche.
“Cristiano Ronaldo is a very complete player, but Messi is better because he has magic.”
The former Brazil star revealed that he almost joined Manchester United, but it was former president Sandro Rosell who convinced him to join the Camp Nou side.
“Before the offers came, he had asked me if I would play in Barcelona when they won the election and became the presidents, and I had said ‘Yes’.
“I wanted to play in Barcelona. When I signed, I didn’t feel pressure, I felt joy. I had the chance that all of the players wanted, to play in a great club like Barcelona.