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MELBOURNE. – Lionel Messi has talked up the qualities of Cristiano Ronaldo – insisting that there is no great rivalry between the two. The duo are often compared given their superstar status and positions with Spain’s two great rival clubs: Barcelona and Real Madrid. But the pair have recently played down a supposed distaste for one another, with Ronaldo recently claiming they enjoy “a very good relationship” and saying he enjoys watching the Argentine in action.

Now Messi, 29, has offered his thoughts on the 32-year-old, admitting he is impressed by the Portuguese star’s drive to constantly improve and hailing him as one of the world’s best.

“That thing about our rivalry is something more invented by the press than by us,” Messi said to Tencent Sports .

“What we want is to do our best every year, to do the best for our teams and what is spoken from outside is not something I give importance to.

“He is a phenomenal player who has many qualities that year after year he improves and that is why he is one of the best in the world.”

Messi is in Australia for the Albiceleste’s clash with Brazil at the MCG today, as Jorge Sampaoli makes his debut as coach.

The ex-Chile and Sevilla coach is set to make numerous changes after taking over from Edgardo Bauza, sacked after a 2-0 defeat in Bolivia in March.

One of those changes includes moving to a 3-4-3 formation, with the side having worked on a front trio of Lionel Messi, Paulo Dybala and Gonzalo Higuain- Daily Mirror.