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Luis Enrique hits out at 'ridiculous' Messi 'golden melons' comparison

Luis Enrique has taken a swipe at critics who try to compare Lionel Messi with greats of the game using the number of "golden melons" won by the Barcelona star.

Messi finished runner-up to Cristiano Ronaldo in the race to win the 2016 Ballon d'Or, despite helping Barca to claim a second consecutive domestic double.

Ronaldo now sits one behind the Argentina captain in the all-time Ballon d'Or standings, with four wins to Messi's five, while past greats Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten are further back on three triumphs apiece.

But the Barca head coach has dismissed the notion of using individual prizes to compare Messi to stars of the previous century and insists there is no player in the modern game who will replicate the 29-year-old's feats.