Leonardo Bonucci makes claim about Manchester United hero Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi

Leonardo Bonucci has compared Cristiano Ronaldo to Lionel Messi ahead of Italy’s Finalissima with Argentina on Wednesday night.

The match - which saw the European Champions winners take on the Copa America champions - was brought back for the first time in 29 years. It was played at Wembley Stadium, the ground where Italy defeated England in the Euro 2020 final.

It meant Messi was on English soil once again to face the Azzurri, who have failed to qualify for this year’s World Cup. Bonucci said he was well-aware of the threat Messi possesses and name-checked Manchester United's Ronaldo when speaking about the Argentine hero.

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Speaking in a pre-match press conference, he said: “He (Messi) has won so many Ballon d’Or awards it’s difficult to add adjectives to his greatness.

“He has been and remains one of the best in the world alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, you need to respect him on the pitch and to be ready individually and as a team to stop him.”

Both superstars moved clubs in the summer. Ronaldo had a individually successful homecoming season with United, netting 24 goals to end the season as club’s top scorer. Messi had a sombre debut year at Paris Saint-Germain, by his super standards.

The Ligue 1 winner scored only 11 and provided 15 assists as his club’s Champions League dreams were dashed by Real Madrid in the Last 16.

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