Dani Alves: Cristiano Ronaldo doesn’t influence games

Barcelona defender Dani Alves has seemingly demonstrated a complete lack of understanding of football by bizarrely claiming Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo doesn’t influence games.

In an interview with Bola de Vez, the right back was asked a question many pundits have been asked previously – who is better between Ronaldo and Leo Messi.

Unsurprisingly, the Barcelona man went with his team mate, but then rather went on to say Ronaldo doesn’t influence Real’s game – forgetting that scoring goals is perhaps the best way to mark an influence on a game. The Portuguese forward hit a career best 61 goals for his club in all competitions last season.

“Messi is much better than Cristiano Ronaldo. Messi has an influence on the play and Cristiano doesn’t. See if he has an influence on the play beyond scoring goals and appearing in certain moves. Messi is influential, he plays and assists. Messi has a divine gift. Cristiano is work. We have our battles, but I admire him. He is a guy with great dedication and he’s competitive,” Alves claimed.

He went on to add: “He has things that I do not admire because I play for the team. I think that my team is more important than me. I think he cares little for what really matters, which is the collective side of the game. So much so that some criticised us during the celebration of titles while he celebrated the Pichichi.”