Jamie Carragher believes Cristiano Ronaldo has traded clubs in an effort to prove a point to those who continue to compare him with Lionel Messi.

The ex-England international said: “I think [Messi] that’s why Ronaldo’s moved. I think he knows that he’s always been seen as just behind Messi, so I think Ronaldo’s quite clever.

“I can say I’ve won the league in all these countries, been the top scorer in all these countries and these are more strings to my bow … I also think he probably does the opposite to what Messi does to try and paint himself as being slightly different.

Carragher added that Messi does not need a move away from Barcelona in order to enhance his legacy.

“It’s just stupid. It’s absolutely daft,” Carragher told CaughtOffside of that debate.

“He’s at the top club, he’s the best player there, he’s the best player in Europe.

“The best show up against the best on the biggest occasions and that’s what he does so I don’t really listen (to other’s opinions). Fair play to Ronaldo and well done, but it’s not something to criticise Messi for.”

“Listen, I don’t think of Franco Baresi and Paolo Maldini being any less of a defender because they never left AC Milan. So that’s not going to change me with Lionel Messi not leaving Barcelona. I mean, why would you leave Barcelona?”