Pepe believes that Real Madrid team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo is a better player than Barcelona star Lionel Messi because he has more aspects to his game.

The Brazilian-born defender has returned from a ten-match ban for punching and stamping on an opponent and is enjoying the limelight that he being given.

With both Ronaldo and Messi constantly being compared in the Spanish media, Pepe has waded into the debate and sided with his fellow Portugal international.

"Cristiano Ronaldo is better because he is capable of scoring goals with his head, with both feet and from free kicks, as well as creating goals," he told Marca.

"He is a spectacular player, able to incredible things. He has a great desire to win and he his going to help us a lot."

Reflecting on his ten-match ban and the incident that led to the punishment, Pepe admits that he has learnt from it.

"What I did was wrong, but I served my suspension and all I want to do now is work hard and help my team. I was happy to return and I am now eager to do my very best," he continued.

"My friends and family gave me their full support. They know what kind of guy I am and I am grateful. I know I have a lot to learn, but I have apologised for what I did."

England coach Fabio Capello has rated Lionel Messi as the best player in the world, and the favourite for the upcoming FIFA World Player of the Year.

The former Milan, Juventus and Roma boss says that the Argentine is a step ahead of some of the world's best players, and someone that a team would love to have.

"There is not only Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, but Kaká, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard," Capello remarked to TMW.

"We are talking about fantastic players here, but according to me, a step above them all is Lionel Messi.

"He is an unpredictable player, with great imagination," he concluded.

The decision for the FIFA World Player of the Year will be made in the next month, with Messi widely tipped to receive the prestigious award, following his stunning performances in the Champions League and La Liga.

Valeriy Gazzaev watched his Dynamo Kiev side put in a spirited performance at Camp Nou, only to come up short against Barcelona last night.

Kiev started brightly in their UEFA Champions League Group F encounter, but came undone thanks to a brilliant Lionel Messi goal, before Pedro sealed the win for the Blaugrana in the second half.

"I congratulate Barcelona on the victory. They play fantastic football, we could not do anything to stop them. They are very strong collectively and individually," Gazzaev is quoted assaying by AS.

"We wanted to play well and we did what we could, but nobody can stop Barcelona. We started well on the counterattack, and we had our chances, but they disappeared when we didn't have the ball.

"It's a great experience for our players and I hope it serves them well. You cannot criticise Barcelona's players. Their level is very high."

Xavi has admitted that he is proud of the form of Barcelona's strikers this season, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has settled in quickly since his summer move from Inter.

"[Scoring] is what the strikers are there for. We are happy with Ibrahimovic, and [Lionel] Messi is doing very well," Xavi affirmed to AS.

The Blaugrana face Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League on Tuesday, and Xavi added that the crucial factors in their success are their hunger to win and desire to have the ball.

"The key is that the team goes out with the will to win and with hunger. Mentally, we are better when we have the ball and have lots of possession," he affirmed.

Barcelona midfielder Xavi has insisted that the Blaugrana are as hungry as ever to continue winning titles, despite having won everything there is to win at the club.

"The team is still hungry to win titles and we hope to go all out from the first minute of every game," he told Sport.

However, as Barca prepare to take on Dynamo Kiev in the UEFA Champions League at Camp Nou tonight Xavi warns that Group F will not be easy to win.

"We have nothing easy in this group. Dynamo Kiev and Rubin Kazan are relatively unknown here but they are champions of their own leagues and we must keep that in mind," he added.

Xavi also had special words of praise for Argentinian team-mate Lionel Messi who he described as the best player in the world.

"He is the best in the world. Playing next to him makes everything much easier."

In an interview with German magazine Kicker, Cesar Luis Menotti has lauded Barcelona star Andres Iniesta and suggested that Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo still has a way to go before being labelled one of the game's greats.

"[Iniesta] is one of the few adventurous people in football and is also very dangerous in front of the opposition goalkeeper," Menotti affirmed.

Menotti, who coached Argentina from 1974-1983, warned that it was difficult to compare modern footballers with those who had preceded them, but believes that Alfredo Di Stefano is still the greatest of all time.

"The king of kings is Alfredo Di Stefano. After him, in chronological order, Pele, [Johan] Cruyff and [Diego] Maradona. There are few players after that. Maybe Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, [and Zinedine] Zidane."

The Argentine, whose last job in management was with Mexican side Tecos, added that Cristiano Ronaldo was currently closer to the group of "princes" alongside the likes of Franz Beckenbauer and Michel Platini.

Jorge Valdano believes that Lionel Messi of Barcelona will win the coveted Ballon d'Or ahead of Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, though he doesn't believe that should be the case.

Messi helped guide Barca to a unique treble last season and was a member of a front line who scored over 100 goals, along with Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto'o.

"Each in his way is a star from a higher dimension," Valdano was quoted as saying by AS.

"Messi because he runs with the ball attached to the foot, is very effective in one-on-one's and shoots well with his left leg.

"Cristiano because he is fast, with great control of the ball at speed, tremendous power, tremendous continuity during the game, because he is currently the best striker in the world.

"Ronaldo would deserve it, but I've always thought the Ballon d'Or is awarded for what one did until July. Messi won it all."

Barcelona's president Joan Laporta has described Lionel Messi as the teams "leader", and said the Argentine forward deserves a new deal that will make him the highest played footballer in the world.

"Messi deserves the [contract] renewal because he is the teams leader and the best player in the world," Laporta said to reporters in Spain.

"Messi is a great player. It's hard to see a Barcelona team without him."

The 22-year-old Argentinian is reportedly set to earn in the region of €10 million per year plus performance related incentives.

Laporta also said that the club must make an intelligent decision in relation to the contract of coach Pep Guardiola, keeping in mind that although the coach won everything last season, that is now in the past.

He added, "He won everything last year, but we must make an intelligent move. All of that is in the past now, and we are in the present.

"We start from scratch although it is good to remember. We must continue with the same effort as last year."

Barcelona officials are currently working on contract extensions that will keep Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta at the club until 2016, according to Sport.

The Catalan club are reportedly keen to extend the buy-out clauses of both players in an effort to dissuade potential bids from the likes of Manchester City.

Messi's negotiations are said to be at a more advanced stage with the player set to become the highest earner in world football, earning in the region of €10 million per-year plus performance-based incentives.

The buy-out clause is set to increase from €150-200 million however the club is confident that it is Messi's desire to remain at the club that would overrule any potential bid. It is expected that Messi will sign the improved deal later this month.

Andres Iniesta has already publicly stated that he would never ask Barcelona for "even one euro" but it is understood that the club seeks to reward the player for his efforts.

The players desire to retire from football at Camp Nou may well be realized as the new deal will conclude when he is 32-years-old.

Iniesta's agent Ramon Sostres has been in talks with the club since the end of last season and it appears that a deal will be struck, with the player set to become one of the clubs top earners and the contract will include a buy-out clause similar to that of his Argentine team-mate.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who joined Barcelona from Inter this summer, scored his first goal for the Blaugrana yesterday, in a 3-0 league victory over Sporting Gijon.

The Sweden international, who scored his side's third goal, headed home from close range at the back post on 82 minutes and was immediately congratulated by his club colleagues.

After the game, Ibrahimovic confessed he was full of joy to have scored his first goal for the Catalan club.

"I thank the fans, who are being great with me," he told Sport. "They did not stop cheering me up and that makes me be even more motivated.

"I have finally scored and I am very happy with the goal, and especially with the victory.

"Although we are not at our best yet, we have started the season very well and we already have two trophies in our pocket.

"Therefore, when we are at 100 per cent, I am sure we will make better games and we will please the fans a lot more. But there is no need to be in a hurry."

Xavi Hernandez has revealed that Barcelona players felt the effects of the European Super Cup during their opening league encounter with Sporting de Gijon on Monday evening.

The talismanic midfielder was able to produce another dominant display, but has admitted that after the arduous encounter in Monaco against Shakhtar on Friday, things were tough.

Barca won thanks to goals from Bojan Krkic, Seydou Keita and Zlatan Ibrahimovic; but many pundits felt that the team was not at its best throughout.

"We came off the back of winning two Super Cups and it was not easy. It was a game that could have caused us problems, but we gave everything we had," he told the club's official website.

"It was a game that could have caught us out. Sporting play well, but the team has not complicated matters for ourselves.

Xavi was also pleased that Ibrahimovic opened his account for the club and thinks that the Swedish striker will only improve.

"Ibra is a goalscorer and he likes to score. It is his first goal for Barca and we are happy for him because he is doing well," he added.

Dmytro Chygrynskiy has revealed that he feared his transfer from Shakhtar Donetsk to Barcelona would fall through before eventually being agreed upon last week.

The Ukrainian defender was presented to the media after penning a five-year deal at Camp Nou on Monday and described his arrival as a dream come true.

After tense negotiations saw the chase for Chygrynskiy become drawn out, the player himself was delighted that the move was done before the summer transfer window closed.

"I am very pleased that Barcelona maintained their interest in buying me right up until the end," he was quoted as saying by the club's official website

"I always hoped that I would move, but I could not do too much in case I offended my club.

"The negotiations were very difficult and at times they even reached breaking point. Finally, Barca's interest bore fruit and I am able to fulfil my dream and join them."

Chygrynskiy also revealed that he will wear the number 21 shirt and that anyone having difficulty with his surname can call him 'Chygsy' like his friends do.

Club president Joan Laporta could also not hide his delight after his involvement helped the process along as he visited Donetsk to hold face-to-face talks with Shakhtar.

"The talks were very long," he told the press. "This was a signing we really wanted and now he is here."

"I would like to emphasise his personality and professionalism as well as the sense of responsibility that he has," Laporta said of Chygrynskiy. "His desire to join Barcelona was absolute.

"He already knows what 'mes que un club' (more than a club) means and we hope that his period of adaptation will be quick and easy."