Messi: I have no battle against Ronaldo

Posted Thursday, October 20, 2011 by ESPN

Barcelona striker Lionel Messi has played down his personal battle with Cristiano Ronaldo, insisting winning titles is the only that interests him.

Messi and Real Madrid star Ronaldo are widely considered to be the best two players in the world at the moment, with the pair battling it out for the Pichichi over the past two seasons.

But ahead of Wednesday's Champions League game against Viktoria Plzen, Messi told www.fcbarcelona.com: "This is a thing for the journalists. I have no battle against him and I just want to help my team-mates to keep winning."

Messi is closing in on becoming Barca's all-time leading scorer, needing 39 to overtake Cesar Rodriguez.

Messi said: "It is my goal to match Cesar. The more goals the better, but not to beat the record - to win titles, which is what most interests me.

"We've made history, but we want to do more."

Barcelona, who are level with AC Milan on four points at the top of Group H, may have Cesc Fabregas available on Wednesday.

The former Arsenal midfielder has trained with the rest of the squad for the first time since a training injury on October 1, while Alexis Sanchez is also available.

Plzen midfielder Daniel Kolar was part of the Czech national side beaten by world and European champions Spain in a Euro 2012 qualifier earlier this month, and believes he will be facing an an even stronger side in Barcelona.

The 25-year-old told sportplus.cz: "Playing against Barcelona is in itself frightening. But even so I'm looking forward to the game.

"Playing Spain was a great education. They showed why they are champions of Europe and the world."

But Kolar believes Barca are even better "because they have a collection of truly the best players from around the world".
Plzen are preparing for an evening of working hard without the ball.

"Maybe it will turn on the fact that they will keep the ball and we will just run around," Kolar said.

"But we must try to show what we can do. Barcelona and Plzen are in different dimensions. But Barcelona are in a different league to most clubs in the world."