Cristiano Ronaldo vs Leonel Messi at Old Trafford

Manchester: Cristiano Ronaldo will try to outshine Lionel Messi on his return to Old Trafford when the two best players in the world clash in a friendly between Portugal and Argentina on Tuesday.

 

Real Madrid forward Ronaldo and Barcelona striker Messi are locked in a battle to prove themselves the top player on the planet and their latest showdown comes on the former home turf of the Portugal icon.

 

Adding spice to their rivalry with Spain’s two superpowers is the speculation that they aren’t on good terms off the pitch either. Whatever the status of their personal relationship, the duo have deservedly become serial trophy collectors over the last decade, with team and individual prizes hoovered up on a regular basis.

 

Ronaldo hopes to add a third gong this year, and few would disagree if he pipped Messi and several contenders from the German World Cup winning team. 

Ronaldo’s return to Old Trafford will be his second since he left United for Madrid in 2009.

 

In March 2013, he scored the goal that knocked his old club out of the Champions League in front of still-adoring United fans. But poor ticket sales for this week’s friendly suggest United supporters aren’t quite so keen to pay tribute to their former idol on this occasion.

 

There will also be a return to Manchester for former City and United striker Carlos Tevez. Tevez, now with Juventus, came back into the Argentina squad last week after three years in exile.