Neymar

Lionel Messi reportedly thinks Neymar and PSG could well signal the end of both Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid.

PSG have the chance to knock the holders out of the competition in the match of the round – and Messi thinks that Neymar could show he’s the successor to the Ballon d’Or once Messi and Ronaldo fade away.

Ronaldo has struggled this season, and without the Champions League, it will be difficult for the player to stake a claim to being the best in Spain, let alone the best in football – and Messi is aware of this.

The Express claim Messi and Neymar are still close, and the Barcelona man has called his former teammate to wish him all the luck there is for the big clash – and to boost his hopes of putting in a world class performance to boot. It goes without saying the report also says the majority of Barcelona players are behind Neymar and PSG – and want the club to knock their domestic rivals out of the competition.

Big game

Of course, after struggling so much this season, one thing Real Madrid will be relying on is their Champions League form, with the club aware they need to make sure they get into the next round to keep their season alive.

La Liga is almost gone and they’re out the Cup, meaning the competition they’ve made their own in the last couple of years is now more vital than ever to them.

Not to mention it’s key to Ronaldo and his own hopes of personal success come the Ballon d’Or – as winning the Champions League for a third time in a row and being the main man as Real Madrid navigate the knockout stages would certainly put him right back in the running for all the personal accolades.