Messi and CR7 in a face-off to win prestigious award

MARCA.COM

Three points plus the Balon d'Or

 

There's more at stake for Messi and Cristiano in the 'Clásico' than just the three points. With no disrespect to Iniesta, the pair will battle it out in their struggle to win the Balon d'Or. The two stellar players will both be doing their utmost to outdo each other in their efforts to bag the prestigious award. Unless the two face up in the first rounds of the Cup, it will be the last time they come face to face before the winner is announced.
It is a close run thing between Messi-Cristiano and, while every game counts, the 'Clásico' counts for more, much more. There's no substitute for winning such a vital game and playing a key role in your team's victory, especially when your biggest rival is on the opposing team and the whole world is watching your every move. Apart from winning titles, its matches like these that help tip the balance one way or the other.
At least one of the pair has scored in all but four of the last 15 'Clásicos'. In the other 11 they have always left their mark on the game, which only proves to show how decisive they both can be. Cristiano has scored on eight different occasions and Messi on seven. The Portuguese international has scored eight goals compared to Leo's nine.
The Madrid forward finds himself in great form ahead of the game, having scored in four consecutive matches and with a hat-trick in the last two. Messi has had slightly different fortunes so far this season, having got off to a cracking start but having been unable to score in the last three games. However, the Argentinian is very close to breaking the record held by Di Stéfano, the player who has scored the most goals in the history of the 'Clásico' with 18. What's more, Messi has scored 98 league goals in the 'Camp Nou'. Nonetheless, Cristiano is also looking to the record books, as the last player to score in the 'Camp Nou' two seasons running was Hugo Sánchez in 86/87.