Ronaldo hits back at Messi comparison

Portugal superstar and captain Cristiano Ronaldo hit back at his critics today after some fans chanted "Messi, Messi" in allusion to his being outscored in La Liga by Barcelona star Lionel Messi.

Ronaldo was profligate in the 3-2 win over Denmark in Lviv which kept his side's Euro 2012 dreams alive and the chants - from the Danish supporters - soon came.

But he had a pithy riposte.

"Do you know what he (Messi) was doing this time last year? He was going out of the Copa America in the quarter-finals."

Both men, candidates for the 2012 Ballon d'Or accolade, have regularly been criticised for generally not showing their stellar club form at international level.

"Everyone has the right to miss chances, myself included," said Ronaldo - who has scored just five goals in 15 matches in major competitions for Portugal and who has yet to break his duck here.

"I would have liked to score, you know me, but I gave my all. The goals will come. The team won, that is what matters."

AFP