NBA legend Kobe Bryant can’t choose between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The Argentina No10 and the Portugal No7 are among the final three nominees for Best FIFA Men’s Player 2016 award, along with Frenchman Antoine Griezmann.

"It's very difficult to decide which player is better,” said the 38-year-old Philadelphian. “It depends on which type of football you want. For tika-taka, I’ll stay with Messi, but if you want more aggressive play, then Ronaldo.”

Bryant grew up in Italy, where his father, Joe ‘Jellybean’ Bryant, played basketball, and became a huge fan of AC Milan.

The man who won five NBA championships with the LA Lakers attended the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2013 and the following year’s FIFA World Cup™, during which he told FIFA.comthat football “is actually my favourite sport”.

The Best FIFA Men’s Player will be crowned at The Best FIFA Football Awards™ ceremony in Zurich on 9 January 2017.