The two superstars are regarded as the best in the world (Picture: Getty)

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has weighed into the debate over who is the best football player on the planet: Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.

The pair have enjoyed a stranglehold over the Ballon d’Or for the past decade, with Messi guiding Barcelona to La Liga glory last season while Ronaldo claimed his fifth Champions League winners’ medal last season before leaving Real Madrid for Juventus.

Klopp was asked a series of quick-fire questions by German TV, and had little hesitation when it came to deciding between Messi and Ronaldo.

Messi is just a tiny bit better than Ronaldo in Klopp’s eyes (Picture: Getty)

‘That’s unfair again – just like [whether I want to win] the Champions League or Premier League,’ Klopp told Sky Germany.

‘But I would go with Lionel. Although I adore both!’

Klopp was earlier asked whether he would prefer domestic or European glory, and said he wanted to win the Premier League more than the Champions League.

‘Liverpool didn’t do it yet,’ he explained: ‘For me personally it wouldn’t make such a difference, I would like to have both, that would be my favourite option.’

Messi is enjoying another excellent campaign for Barca (Picture: Rex)

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Messi and Ronaldo are enjoying hugely prolific campaigns once again this season, with Ronaldo netting eight times in his 12 Serie A appearances.

But his Argentine rival just holds the edge, having scored nine times in nine starts in La Liga – as well as laying on five assists – while he is also the joint top scorer in the Champions League with five goals.