Lionel Messi: I am not envious of Cristiano Ronaldo

Lionel Messi has insisted that he is not envious of any of Cristiano Ronaldo’s abilities.

The pair, along with Neymar, are in Zurich waiting to discover who will take home the prestigious 2015 Ballon d’Or award.

What Cristiano has is lots of quality and lots of good things

Lionel Messi

The trio faced the media ahead of the awards gala on Monday afternoon, and the nominees were asked which of their rivals’ attributes they were most envious of.

But Messi preferred to insist that both he and Ronaldo have different, individual styles.

Messi told the news conference: “I don’t feel any envy because that’s a very negative trait.

“What Cristiano has is lots of quality and lots of good things that all players would like to have.

“I am the way I am and he is the way he is. We have individual personalities.”

Ronaldo, however, conceded that there was one aspect of Messi’s game that he would like to have.

“His left foot is really good and I’d like to have that,” Ronaldo smiled.

Messi, who has not won the Ballon d’Or since 2012, helped to inspire Barcelona to a La Liga, Champions League and Copa del Rey treble last season, scoring 48 goals in 56 games for club and country in 2015.

The Argentina international is the heavy favourite to win the prize ahead of Ronaldo, who ended the season without a trophy.