LIONEL MESSI has sent Cristiano Ronaldo a message for 2018.
The Barcelona star is determined to win back the Ballon d’Or for a record sixth time.
Ronaldo won the gong in 2017 to draw level with Messi on five each as they continue to battle to be known as the best player in world football.
And now, according to Spanish publication Don Balon, Messi has started the year with a message for his rival: ‘This is my year’.
It is claimed Ronaldo winning the award late last year has motivated Messi even further and he wants to step it up.
Messi has started the season with a bang and helped inspire Barcelona to the top of La Liga.
The Argentina star has 15 goals in 17 La Liga matches and three from six in the Champions League.
That compares well with Ronaldo’s four in La Liga, but he does have nine in six Champions League games.
He is determined to win back the title in Spain and put on a challenge in Europe.
Messi will then get the chance to end Argentina’s wait for World Cup glory in the summer in Russia.
Ronaldo had an incredible season last year with the Champions League and La Liga double coming after helping Portugal win Euro 2016 – despite getting injured in the final.
Source:www.express.co.uk