Lionel Messi: I'd Pay To Watch Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo

With Barcelona due to compete with Manchester United in Rome on Wednesday for the Champions League trophy, Lionel Messi has lavished praise on his counterpart Cristiano Ronaldo. The Argentina international says that the 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year is such a gifted player that he would part with his own cash to watch him in action. "Manchester United have quality everywhere," Messi told The Daily Mail. "So many good players. But if I had to pick one out it would be Ronaldo. "He is a player I would pay to watch. "He and I are very different players but he is unbelievable, very special, and it will not be easy to stop him." However, the 21-year-old realises it would be foolish for La Blaugrana to focus solely on the Portuguese winger, such is the strength in depth of the Red Devils' squad. "We must not pay all attention to him and forget about Berbatov, Rooney and Carlos Tevez," Messi added. "Manchester United have players all over the pitch who can punish you in the same way we have."