Ronaldinho says Lionel Messi is the best of his time – but not the best of all time

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Former Barcelona star Ronaldinho believes that Lionel Messi is the best player of his generation, but has stopped short of calling him the best ever.

Lionel Messi

The Brazilian played alongside Messi at the Camp Nou until his departure for AC Milan in 2008.

Messi scooped a record sixth Ballon d’Or earlier this month after another extraordinary year, finishing ahead of Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk.

"I can't say Messi is the best ever, but he is the best of his time," Ronaldinho told Marca.

"I'm happy for Messi because he is a friend, besides he has been a reference point for Barcelona.

"I don't like comparisons because it's hard to identify who is the best in history, there is Diego Maradona, Pele and Ronaldo."

His Ballon d’Or victory was his first since 2015, and his sixth in total after previous wins in 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009.

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Alasdair Mackenzie

Alasdair Mackenzie is a freelance journalist based in Rome, and a FourFourTwo contributor since 2015. When not pulling on the FFT shirt, he can be found at Reuters, The Times and the i. An Italophile since growing up on a diet of Football Italia on Channel 4, he now counts himself among thousands of fans sharing a passion for Ross County and Lazio.