Lionel Messi responds to Cristiano Ronaldo's offer to join him in Italy

Lionel Messi appeared to be a man on a mission before the Spanish football winter break.

After his questionable fifth-place finish in the Ballon d'Or rankings, the Argentine superstar sought to remind the world of his generational talent in Barcelona's next three La Liga games.

Messi found the net on six occasions, with Barca now going into the new year at the summit of the table.

Their 31-year-old talisman is now Europe's leading goal scorer yet again on 14 league goals, despite missing nearly a month of action with a fractured arm.

There's no doubting that Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are the two finest players of their generation and there is a school of thought suggesting that they're the two greatest to have kicked a ball.

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The pair may have never lifted a single World Cup between them, but the strength of the Champions League and their remarkable consistency surely outweighs a single international triumph.

One other thing that weighs Messi down in the eyes of some is the fact that he has spent his whole career with Barcelona.

Ronaldo on the other hand has enjoyed success with Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus.

In a recent interview, the Portuguese even suggested that Messi should follow him to Italy to prove himself in a new environment.

Well, the Argentine has now responded to his rival and it doesn't sound like he'll be joining Ronaldo anytime soon.

Messi said in an interview with Marca: ”Accepting Ronaldo's challenge to join Italian football? I don't need any change. I'm at the best team in the world.

"My challenges are renewed year after year. I do not need to change teams or leagues to set new goals. I am at home and I do not need to change.”

Messi's main goal appears to be bringing the Champions League trophy back to Catalonia, rather than thinking of a move elsewhere