'Messi effect' is keeping Ronaldo at the top - Kaka

Cristiano Ronaldo's motivation to stay at the top of world football comes from his rivalry with Barcelona star Lionel Messi, Kaka says.

Ronaldo and Messi have been regarded as the best players in the world for over a decade, having won five Ballons d'Or each while in competition at Real Madrid and Barcelona. 

The Portuguese attacker has maintained his incredible form since leaving Madrid for Juventus, having already scored 24 times in 36 games in all competitions. 

At 34, Ronaldo is showing no sign of slowing down and former Madrid and AC Milan hero Kaka believes he is spurred on by his desire to stay ahead of Messi.

"It doesn't surprise me for what it is, it surprises me because he's still at this level," Kaka told  La Gazzetta dello Sport  of the Juventus star. 

"I believe there is also a Messi effect, the infinite challenge, this desire to always outdo himself. At 34 and after so many successes, Cristiano still finds surprising motivations."

Madrid have struggled since Ronaldo left for the Italian champions. They were eliminated from the Champions League last-16 by Ajax, beaten in the Copa del Rey by Barcelona and are nine points adrift of their Catalan rivals in La Liga.

But the recent return of coach Zinedine Zidane is expected to stabilise the Santiago Bernabeu outfit and Kaka is intrigued to see if the Frenchman can replicate his previous success without Ronaldo.

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"The cycles end," he added. "Certainly, the result with Ajax is a bit unusual. Now Zidane is back, a great coach who has won three Champions League titles in a row.

"Let's see what he will do without Ronaldo."

Ronaldo is in contention to finish the season as Serie A's top scorer, but he faces competition from Sampdoria star Fabio Quagliarella and 23-year-old star Krzysztof Piatek, who has carried his incredible Genoa form on to AC Milan.

Kaka is delighted with the Poland international's form, but argued against making comparisons to former Rossoneri hero Andriy Shevchenko.

"Piatek is strong, but comparing him is harmful," he said. "What's impressive about Piatek is that he's always in the right place at the right time. It is truly a very good purchase."

Fellow January signing Lucas Paqueta has also impressed since joining from Flamengo and Kaka has high hopes for his fellow Brazilian.

"His way is in Europe, [sporting director] Leonardo will be as important to him as he was to me. And he is a Brazilian, this recreates the passion between Brazil and Milan," he said.

"It makes me doubly pleased that Paqueta is doing beautiful things with Milan because it makes me remember my years there.

"Paqueta and Piatek will build their own history, they don't have to think about the history of others."