Al Sadd star Xavi feels former team-mate Lionel Messi is still the best player in the world, but Cristiano Ronaldo does usurp the little genius in at least one department.

While both players boast unbelievable goalscoring records – with Ronaldo having scored 407 goals in 396 appearances for Los Blancos in all competitions and Messi having netted 510 times in 587 matches in a Blaugrana shirt, Xavi suggests the Portuguese holds a slight edge on Barca’s historic No.10.

In an interview with Marca, Xavi admitted that Ronaldo is the better of the two when it comes to shooting at goal, when positioned in the chief No.9 role.

The 37-year-old said: “Ronaldo is [the best] as a shooter, he’s incredible at that and is a historic player. But with Messi you cannot compare.

“Messi is a master in the collective and individual senses. But for Ronaldo, that kind of linking up takes a lot. Messi does everything well. If a coach were to say “we’re going to play with us all running back” then Messi would also be the best at that. If you ask Ronaldo to play with one or two touches then I don’t know if he would be the best.”

The Qatar-based star also denied suggestions that Messi – a long-term friend of the midfielder’s – had delayed signing his new contract extension due to Barcelona’s supposed lack of summer transfer activity (before the arrival of Ousmane Dembele).

“Is Messi delaying his contract renewal to force the club to sign players?” I don’t think he has done that, but it would be within his rights.”