Ronaldo says Lionel Messi is a complete player

Brazil great Ronaldo says Barcelona star Lionel Messi is a more complete player than his Real Madrid counterpart Cristiano Ronaldo. The Argentine who will be making his 500 appearances for Barcelona on Wednesday against Real Betis.

The duo have again been nominated for the Ballon d'Or - alongside Neymar - a prize they have shared the past seven years, with Messi winning four titles in a row and Ronaldo three.

The controversy over which player is more talented has raged on for some time, but  Ronaldo, a three-time Ballon d'Or winner himself, said the Argentine was his pick of the pair.

"I choose Messi," he told Clarin. "I see Messi more complete. He does things in a most spectacular way."

The Argentina talisman has scored 12 goals and set up five in 17 matches in all competitions this term, while Ronaldo has netted 23 in 22 games, picking up seven assists.