Cristiano Ronaldo took a swipe at Lionel Messi after being taunted by Denmark fans during Portugal`s 3-2 victory over Morten Olsen`s side in Lviv on Wednesday.
Danish supporters shouted the Argentine`s name every time the Real Madrid star received possession and the 27-year-old attacker, who proved unusually profligate on the night, was asked about the chanting shortly after the full-time whistle.
"You know where he was at this time [last year]? Do you know? He was being eliminated in the Copa America, in his own country," Ronaldo said at the post-game press conference. "I think that`s worse, no?"
While Argentina were indeed eliminated in last summer`s Copa America, they did not bow out until the quarter-final stages, at the hands of eventual winners Uruguay.
Portugal, meanwhile, would have been eliminated had they lost to Denmark but they will now go into their final Group B outing against Netherlands tied for second place with the Scandinavians on three points.
Ronaldo is regarded as Messi`s only rival for the title of the greatest player in the world and is currently hoping to ruin the Barcelona forward`s bid for a fourth successive Ballon d`Or.
Goal.com
First Published: Thursday, June 14, 2012, 08:55