Messi influences games, Ronaldo doesn't - Alves

The Barcelona right-back insists his team-mate is better than the Real Madrid star because he is more heavily involved in his team's moves beyond goals and assists

Barcelona right-back Dani Alves says Lionel Messi is a better player than Cristiano Ronaldo because he has more influence in matches.

The debate continues to rage on over which of the two players is the best in the world and it shows no signs of abating, with the pair seemingly getting better each year.

However, Alves insists Messi has more influence in his team's plays than Ronaldo does with Real Madrid, insisting the Portuguese star does not do anything outside of scoring goals.

"Messi is much better than Cristiano Ronaldo," he told Bola da Vez. "Messi has an influence on the play and Cristiano doesn’t. See if he has an influence on play beyond scoring goals and appearing in certain moves.

"Messi is influential, he plays and assists. Messi has a divine gift. Cristiano works hard. We have our battles, but I admire him. He is a guy with great dedication and he’s competitive.

"Ronaldo has things that I don't admire because I play for the team. I think that my team is more important than me. I think he cares little for what really matters, which is the collective side of the game.

"So much so that some criticised us during the celebration of titles while he celebrated the league top goalscorer award.”

Messi and coach Luis Enrique had a public falling out after the Argentine was left out of his side's defeat to Real Sociedad at the start of 2015, but Alves insists these things happen in football.

"Fights sometimes occur due to wanting to improve. Of course the anger existed, but it was about competing. Everything started during a match in a training session due to the interpretation of an action.

"It was a move that the coach interpreted in one way and Messi in another. Messi is very competitive and never wants to lose and his team lost and the discussion grew.

"Each one has a way of being, but we all have the same objective. Besides, fights even occur in the best families."

The Brazil international recently signed a new contract with the Catalan club, despite being heavily linked with a move away for the majority of the season. And he admits that he turned down offers to remain at Camp Nou.

"I could have signed a pre-contract with another team, but I refused," he added. "I decided to be honest to the end and focus 100 per cent on doing a great job."