Rivaldo: Messi is the best in the world but Ronaldo deserved Ballon d'Or

The Brazilian has had his say ahead of Real Madrid and Barcelona going head-to-head this weekend in one of the biggest rivalries in world football

Former midfielder Rivaldo believes Lionel Messi is the best player in the world but has praised star Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of this weekend's El Clasico clash.

The two powers of Spanish football will lock horns on Saturday afternoon in another chapter of one of the world's most iconic sporting rivalries, with Barca playing catch up in the overall head-to-head rankings.

Real have come out on top in 72 of their 174 meetings with Barca and have a greater trophy collection than the Catalan outfit, though trail Ernesto Valverde's side in the table this term.

The tie will also see Messi and Ronaldo square up once again in what has now become a story within the tale of the Clasico.

Questioned on the pair - arguably the two finest players to have ever played the game - Rivaldo, who won two Liga titles whilst playing for Barca, admits that one is a cut above the other.

"I would like to play with Messi, it would be amazing. He is the best of the world, the one who makes more differences," Rivaldo told Betfair.

"Ronaldo? He is the most dangerous player at Real.

"It is hard to stop him, like Messi, because both score a lot of goals and you never know what is going to be the next thing they will invent for scoring."

Ronaldo collected his fifth Ballon d'Or trophy earlier this month, equalling a record previously set by Messi.

The rivalry has been a common sub-plot in previous Clasico derbies and a number of bodies associated with Barcelona have publically backed Messi as the best in the world following Ronaldo winning the award.

And while Rivaldo recognises the international's success, he believes that he may not have won the award if he was playing during the time of the Brazilian's peak.

"If Ronaldo won is because he deserved it," Rivaldo added. "In my time there were more players than today challenging for being the best in the world.

" I remember Figo, Del Piero or Totti, now you always hear about the same players and I am pretty sure I could challenge with Messi and Ronaldo because football was harder in my times.

"I am not here for controversy, I'll just say that both are very good players. However, in my time you could find more quality players than today, in which you only hear about Messi, Ronaldo and Neymar."