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Messi is better than Ronaldo, Joe Cole claims

15/05/2008

Chelsea winger Joe Cole has sought to ramp up the pressure ahead of next week's Champions League final by claiming Lionel Messi is better than Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Manchester United star won the PFA player of the year award for the second season in succession and finished as the Premier League's top goalscorer, despite playing the majority of the campaign on the wing.

And despite many pundits hailing Ronaldo as the best player in the world at the moment, Cole - who will come face to face with the Portuguese in Moscow next Wednesday night - believes Barcelona star Messi is more talented.

"Ronaldo's been fantastic but Messi showed in the semi-final [between Barca and United] he is the top man," said Cole.

Messi tormented the United defence in both legs of the Champions League tie last month, but he failed to find a breakthrough as the English team won 1-0 on aggregate.

That result, coupled with Barcelona's failure to keep pace with rivals Real Madrid in the Primera Liga, will cost Frank Rijkaard his job as head coach at the end of the season.

Press speculation has linked the Argentinean youngster with a multi-million move away from the Nou Camp this summer, and Chelsea have been named as the most likely suitors - regardless of the price tag involved.

"If we could sign him, I'd love to play alongside him," Cole added.

"He is only 20 as well - imagine how good he will be in the next ten years."