Guardiola speaks on Messi, Ronaldo

Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has said the football world is witnessing an era of “two phenomena”, with the exploits of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Over the last 10 years, Ronaldo and Messi have hogged the plaudits and they are still going strong despite entering their 30s.

Guardiola has only worked with Messi, but believes he and Ronaldo are a cut above everyone else.

“Leo is a competitive, fierce animal.

“That helps others to be competitive. He hates to lose and plays like when he was a kid. In big matches, if the team helps him, he makes the difference.

“Together with Cristiano [Ronaldo] we have lived and are living an era of two phenomena.

“They have spent 10 years scoring 50 goals a season. It’s incredible. It’s not one year, it’s year after year, more and more,” he told reporters at Festival dello Sport.