Diego Maradona has expressed his belief that "goalkeepers are scared" of Cristiano Ronaldo, and claimed that the Real Madrid forward is on the same level as Lionel Messi.

Messi struck twice for Barcelona against Bayern Munich in midweek to edge above Ronaldo as the Champions League's all-time leading scorer on 77 goals.

However, the Portugal international pipped Messi to the Ballon d'Or crown at the beginning of the year, and Maradona can't separate the pair.

"It's not the case that Messi is better than Ronaldo or Ronaldo is better than Messi. I think they are at the same level," Maradona told Sky Sports News.

"Cristiano is a predator in front of goal. You can't let Cristiano shoot from anywhere in the opposition half.

"Goalkeepers are scared of him. You have to be honest, goalkeepers are scared of Cristiano. They are not so scared of Messi in those areas because he doesn't have the same power as Cristiano."

Messi's Barca are currently four points above Ronaldo's Madrid in the La Liga table.