Rio Ferdinand has insisted that former Manchester United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo does not receive the "respect and adulation he deserves" when compared to fellow superstar forward Lionel Messi.
The Real Madrid ace is expected to start in Saturday evening's Champions League final at the San Siro, where he will go in search of yet more silverware.
Ronaldo and Messi have shared each of the last six Ballon d'Or awards - the most recent being taken by the Barcelona man following a stellar calendar year last time out - but Ferdinand believes that his close friend is worthy of even more plaudits.
"Everyone seems to love Messi but Cristiano doesn't really get the respect and adulation he deserves," the Englishman told The Sun. "They both deserve the highest praise.
"They have made this a golden era for football - but I don't think we appreciate it yet. You normally only get one truly world-class player in a generation but we have two. We should savour them while we can."
Ferdinand lifted the Champions League trophy with Ronaldo in 2008 when United edged out Chelsea on penalties in Moscow.
