Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic has dismissed Cristiano Ronaldo's Ballon d'Or triumph.
The Real Madrid star was awarded his fifth Ballon d'Or on Thursday in Paris, but Rakitic is adamant the Portuguese pales in comparison with teammate Lionel Messi.
Rakitic stated: "With all due respect to CR7, who is one of the greatest in history, but he has had to match the greatest one.
"I congratulate him for his Ballon d'Or but for me Leo is unique and there is no need to talk too much ... Number one there is only one, those who come behind had the bad luck to share this time with Messi."
Rakitic also declared Barca goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen as among the best in the world.
He added: "He has always responded, he grows every year, he has many years ahead of him, he is one of the best in the world, his level is very high, I am happy because we get along very well."