Messi, who scored 37 times in La Liga last season, has been at Barcelona since the age of 13, rising through their youth system to become one of the most successful and recognisable footballers in the world.
Cristiano Ronaldo backed himself to win the 2008 Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards after inspiring Manchester United double.
World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo is of the opinion that he would be considered one of the greatest footballers of all time in history by the time he retires.
Iniesta has spent all of his senior career at Barcelona and is their most decorated player ever along with Lionel Messi, having lifted 31 trophies, which is soon to be 32 if Barca clinch the Liga title on Sunday at Deportivo La Coruna.
Ronaldo leads the scoring charts in the Champions League for the sixth season running with nine goals and is the top marksman in the competition's history with 114 strikes, 17 more than nearest challenger Lionel Messi.
Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo will reportedly reward the club's physiotherapy team by buying each of them a brand new car of their choice following his Ballon d'Or win.
Cristiano Ronaldo has patched up his rift with Sepp Blatter following the FIFA president's hairdresser jibe and apparent imitation of the Portuguese international.
PSG make winning start as Messi arrival looms
As the curtains fall on another year, Rediff.com brings you all the action from the sports field that defined 2019.
Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly been accused of loving himself too much and his unbalanced attitude has been said to be at the root of Portugal's 2014 World Cup failure.
The brain may be sharp as ever, but the legs seem heavier, the pace worryingly slower. He's still only 32, but the strain of a decade-and-a-half of paranormal activity on the pitch may just be piling up.
Federico Valverde has already made over 100 appearances at senior level - while winning silverware and recognition both with his current side Madrid and country Uruguay, and showing the physical, technical and mental attributes to become one of world football's outstanding midfielders.
Brazil forward Neymar aims to get fully fit in time for next month's World Cup following foot surgery but his future at Paris St Germain looks rather uncertain.
Brazilian Neymar is set to become the next best player in the world after Argentina's Lionel Messi, according to Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic.
Laxmi Negi/Rediff.com picks the very best players from what has been an outstanding tournament.
The Portugal is in New Jersey in preparation for the FIFA World Cup starting in about a week, but the country is facing problems over Cristiano Ronaldo's fitness.
He is certainly not the first to say this but World Cup and Ballon d'Or winner Rivaldo too feels India should follow the 'Japan model' in order to improve the standard of football in the country.
Finances aside, though, there is an even bigger question mark hanging over Lionel Messi. Is he a fading force?
Cristiano Ronaldo's subdued performances for Portugal at the World Cup after his scintillating form for Real Madrid last season suggest the tournament was a bridge too far for the Ballon d'Or holder.
Cristiano Ronaldo will call curtains on his illustrious career at Real Madrid, according to the Portuguese international's agent.
These stars won the hearts of fans and pundits with their form at the club level and during the World Cup qualifiers. Rediff.com gives you a quick glance of the players who could light up the tournament in Brazil.
The duo has constantly been compared in terms of their playing style, in addition to having represented Spanish giant club Barcelona and captained Argentina.
FIFA Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo must continue to maintain his exceptional high standards in order to be classed among the sport's legends, according to Brazil great Pele who compared the Portuguese to Eusebio.
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo was crowned the world's best soccer player when he bagged the 2013 FIFA Ballon d'Or trophy. Now he is the wealthiest too!
Jurgen Klopp has agreed a contract extension with Liverpool until 2024
Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde said the football world must get used to the idea that Lionel Messi will retire in the near future.
That Lionel Messi is worth his wait in gold was reaffirmed on Wednesday when a pure gold replica of the Argentina and Barcelona star's left foot was unveiled in Tokyo.
It's time for the 'sleeping giant' to wake up from its slumber as the King of football Pele will grace India in October, adding to the festive mood in the country that hosted him 38 years ago.
Real Madrid paid tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo in a statement on their website on Tuesday after the Portuguese forward joined Juventus to end his nine-year stay with the Spanish giants.
Portugal star striker Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been out of action since injuring his knee in the successful Euro 2016 final, has vowed to return soon after stepping up training at Real Madrid's Valdebebas training base.
Portugal and Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo was named the world's best footballer for the second time on Monday, preventing his great rival Lionel Messi from winning the award for a fifth year in a row.
That tiny blip aside, CR7, as he is fondly known by fans has had a spectacular season. As the handsome Portuguese rings in his 29th birthday, Rediff.com brings you all the exciting moments from the footballer's life over the last year.
Lionel Messi, still only 25, was named the world's best player for the fourth time in a row on Monday after a year in which finally produced his best form for Argentina as well as Barcelona.
Real Madrid and Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo was second, the third time the 2008 winner has finished runner-up, and Barcelona and Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta was third as Spain again missed out.
With a fifth world player of the year award safely tucked away in the trophy cabinet, Lionel Messi can set his sights on one of the next milestones in his remarkable career: reaching 500 goals for club and country. The Barcelona and Argentina forward can add to his jaw-dropping tally of 479 in 609 official games -- 430 for Barca and 49 for his national team -- in Sunday's La Liga match at home to Athletic Bilbao. The 28-year-old from Rosario, who picked up the FIFA Ballon d'Or on Monday, is looking close to his best following a two-month injury layoff late last year and netted a hat-trick when second-placed Barca crushed Granada 4-0 at the Nou Camp last weekend in their most recent outing in Spain's top flight.
Argentina talisman Lionel Messi has revealed that his eldest son, Thiago, has little interest in the game in which his father has arguably become the greatest of his generation.
PM Modi gifted Cristiano Ronaldo's autographed jersey by Portugal PM
Barcelona legend Xavi believes nobody will ever be able to replace his former teammate Lionel Messi with respect to his abilities and achievements. Comparing the Argentine with Cristiano Ronaldo, Xavi said that Messi was way above the Portugal's Euro 2016 winner. The 36-year old said, "There will be many good players in the future but no one would come close to Messi's level, when he eventually decides to call it quits."
With the teams having played their second matches in the league stage in Euro 2020, at the conclusion of the Spain-Poland match in Group E on Saturday, here's a look at the best goals from those matches.
Former France soccer great Raymond Kopa, who won three European Cups with Real Madrid in the 1950s, died at the age of 85 on Friday.
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