Cristiano Ronaldo will score more than Lionel Messi this season, predicts Carlo Ancelotti

Reggiolo (Italy): Former Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has backed the club's star striker Cristiano Ronaldo to pip Barcelona forward Lionel Messi to be Spanish league's top goal scorer in 2015-16 campaign.

The Portugal football team captain netted 48 times last term to scoop the Pichichi award (trophy awarded by Spanish sports newspaper Marca to the top goalscorer for each league season) ahead of Messi, and Ancelotti believes Ronaldo can repeat that feat this term, even though both men remain scoreless so far in the ongoing season.

"It is a bit strange that neither Ronaldo, nor Messi has scored yet this season in La Liga. But I do not have any doubts about Cristiano. I know him very well and I am willing to bet that he will win the top scorer trophy again this season," Ancelotti was quoted as saying by goal.com on Monday.

"When I was in charge last season, he scored 61 goals in all competitions. He really was incredible. Messi's drought so far is also quite unusual, but there is no reason to doubt him either. He is one of the greatest players the game has ever seen," the Italian manager said.

Ronaldo, 30, has won the Pichichi trophy three times so far in his career, emerging top of the goal-scoring charts in 2010-11, 2013-14 and last season.