In the war of words prior to next Wednesday's Champions League final between Chelsea and Manchester United, Chelsea wide man Joe Cole has said that he believes Barcelona's Lionel Messi to be a better player than Cristiano Ronaldo.

"Ronaldo's been fantastic but in the semi-final Messi showed he's the top man. He is only 20 as well, imagine how good he will be in the next 10 years."

This is a view that has been expressed by many people since the semi-final, and it is difficult to argue that over the two legs Messi produced more than Ronaldo. There is absolutely no doubt that both of these players are at the very top of the game and deserve all the credit they are given.

The question is, which one is the current best player in the world? I can't agree with Joe Cole, because although Messi looked mercurial against Manchester United and Ronaldo had relatively quiet games, who won? How many goals did Messi score or create? How many goals did his team score?

Football is all about end product. Both Messi and Ronaldo are attacking wide players and it is their job to score and create goals. Those goals then give the team the victories they need to be successful. If you look at the statistics, there can only be one winner.

Messi's team, third in La Liga and beaten semi-finalists in the Champions League. Ronaldo's team, Premier League Champions and Champions League finalists.

Messi appearances in all competitions, thirty one and six as a substitute. Goals scored, sixteen. Ronaldo appearances in all competitions, forty-five and three as a substitute. Goals scored, forty-one.

Individual skill is one thing that is wonderful to watch, but producing the end product as regularly as Ronaldo has this season, and helping your team to success, as Ronaldo has done this season, must put him ahead of the two at this time.

Both great players. Probably the best two in the world, but for me, Ronaldo has to have the edge at the moment.