Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo: Barcelona forward on a ‘different level’ to everyone else, insists Gary Lineker

Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo: Barcelona forward on a ‘different level’ to everyone else, insists Gary Lineker
Former Barcelona striker Gary Lineker insists Lionel Messi is on a “different level” to anyone else in the world, hailing the “all-round joy” he brings to football.Messi, 31, is showing no signs of slowing down and was yet again themost prolific goalscorer of the calendar year in 2018 with 51 goals, seeing off Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski for club and country.3

Gary Lineker believes Lionel Messi is on a different level to anyone else and plays the game “in a way the rest of us are not familiar with”

Remarkably, it was the eighth time in the last nine years Messi has scored 50 or more goals in all competitions.And speaking exclusively to talkSPORT, the BT Sport presenter took the opportunity to heap praise on the Argentine maestro, insisting Ronaldo and co are no match for him.

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Lyon v Barcelona is live on talkSPORT 2 on Tuesday night, kick-off 8pm

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He said: Hes just phenomenal. Hes 31 now and hes still going strong.He plays the game in a way the rest of us are not familiar with.I watch a lot of football, and people pine on this wholeMessi vs Ronaldo debate; theres no comparison for me.3

The former Barcelona striker told talkSPORT there is no comparison between Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo

They watch a bit of English football and they think La Liga is a walk in the park.“But they actually win most competitions going, domestically and in Europe.”He continued: Messiis on a different level to everybody else, its as simple as that.People say to me what about Ronaldos goalscoring record and so forth.“But I say to them have you seenMessipass a football? Have you seen him dribble towards goal?3

Ronaldo ended his LaLiga rivalry with Messi when he left Real Madrid for Juventus last summer

The all-round joy he brings to football is what I love about him.”Messi, who has six goals in his last four outings in the Champions League, will be part of the Barcelona squad which travels to Lyon for the first leg of their last-16 clash on Tuesday night.And Lineker has backed the Catalan giants, who last won the competition in 2015, to be serious contenders to lift the trophy for a sixth time, especially with Messi around.“Even on his off-days hell do three or four things that take your breath away,” he said. He also scores goals as well I think some people forget that! He’s such a great team player, too.Any team who has him in their side will have a great chance of winning it – that’s for sure.BT Sport brings you the moments that matter this season, with exclusively live coverage of the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League. Watch live on TV and via the award winning BT Sport App. For more info visitbt.com/sport

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