Cristiano Ronaldo: Real Madrid star expects Barcelona pain for Lionel Messi

REAL MADRID star Cristiano Ronaldo is expecting a tough year for Barcelona star Lionel Messi, reports claim.

By Jack Otway    SEP 07, 2017

Real Madrid bettered their La Liga counterparts in the transfer window this summer.

While Barcelona lost Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain and then missed out on Philippe Coutinho and Angel Di Maria, Real went about their business swiftly.

Zinedine Zidane's side look favourites to be crowned champions of Spain - having already scooped the Spanish and European Super Cups so far this season.

And Don Balon claim Cristiano Ronaldo is expecting Barcelona's plight to influence the performances of Messi, who is known to be frustrated at the Catalan giants' torrid summer.

Both players have long vied for the world's most prestigious individual awards, sharing the Ballon d'Or between them every year since AC Milan legend Kaka last won the prize in 2007.

And Don Balon say Ronaldo feels Barcelona's lack of sparkle means Messi's best hopes of silverware and individual glory lie at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
But the Real Madrid star feels he himself has nothing to prove.

He has already won the European Championships with Portugal last year.
And his chances of domestic success with Real are also far higher than his Barcelona counterpart.

Both Portugal and Argentina's hopes of making the World Cup hang in the balance.
Ronaldo's country are currently second in Group B - despite winning seven of their eight group games.
Switzerland sit in pole position, having not dropped a single point so far.
Argentina, meanwhile, are fifth in the South American qualifying group - behind Peru on goal difference.