The Brazilian offered insight into his relationship with the Portuguese captain and the reasons behind his votes for the world’s best player.
Speaking on the program Abre Aspas, Scolari said the key difference between the two legends lies in how their talent was formed, shaping his perception of both throughout his career.
"Messi told me: 'Boss, you never voted for me for the Ballon d'Or, you always voted for Cristiano .' And I replied: 'I have to vote for Cristiano, he's like a son to me.' Messi is a genius. If he closes his eyes, he knows where the ball is. Cristiano wasn't born a genius. He became a genius through his will and dedication," said Scolari.
Scolari revealed that then-United manager Sir Alex Ferguson often contacted him out of concern, as the young Ronaldo was reportedly pushing himself too hard in extra training sessions after matches.
"Ferguson would call me and say, 'Scolari, tell him not to take free kicks today, because he's already taken 30 here.' And then he'd arrive at the national team and want to take another 30. I'd say, 'For God's sake, you've already done that.' But that's his dedication."