Barcelona president believes Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo could be teammates

What's the story?

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu is of the opinion that longstanding rivals Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo could actually be perfect teammates.

In case you didn't know...

When two players have taken football to new heights in the same generation, there are bound to be comparisons between them.

Messi and Ronaldo have been at the forefront of a decade-long rivalry that is quite unprecedented in the history of the game.

The on-field rivalry truly began in Spain as the Argentine's Barcelona and the Portuguese's Real Madrid regularly faced one another in heated Clasicos.

This is followed by groundbreaking records, created and broken by both players, the likes of which were unimagined until the talismanic duo showed up.

The rivalry continues up to this day, despite Ronaldo having left Los Blancos to take on a new challenge with Serie A giants Juventus.

The heart of the matter

Bartomeu has now expressed his belief that Messi and Ronaldo would be perfect team-mates as they would share a unique understanding that is of "a thousand wonders".

Speaking to Spanish radio station Cadena Cope (via Daily Star), the Barca chief said, "Good players are always compatible. They would understand each other a thousand wonders."

Bartomeu also revealed his plans to tie Messi down to another contract at Camp Nou in the future while deeming him the best player in the history of the game.

"There will be another renewal of Messi, not this year. We have Messi for many more years. He is the best player in history."

What's next?

Barcelona and Real Madrid have just come off of a Clasico tie in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final at Camp Nou.

The two rivals will once again face off in the second leg of the competition's semi-finals at the Santiago Bernabeu on February 28.