Former Real Madrid striker Ronaldo has praised Liverpool‘s Mohamed Salah ahead of the two sides’ Champions League final clash on Saturday.

Salah has cited Ronaldo as one of his idols growing up, and the Brazilian showed the admiration is mutual, comparing the Liverpool talisman to Barcelona‘s Lionel Messi.

“With Liverpool, I love Salah, he’s an incredible player with a tremendous quality and I think he is very similar to Messi,” Ronaldo told Cope’s ‘El Partidazo’ programme. “I recently read him say that I was his inspiration and I was very excited and happy to see that.”

Ronaldo will not be attending Saturday’s final in Kiev, but has backed his old side to prevail against a dangerous Liverpool team.

“I think the result will be 3-2 to Madrid and, if they win the final, it will be an unprecedented event in the club’s history,” he said.”There were doubts during the year, but I’m very optimistic about the chance to achieve something historic.”

Turning his thoughts to this summer’s World Cup, which Ronaldo won in 2002, the Brazilian singled out Spain rather than Germany as the biggest threat to his country’s chances in Russia, where Ronaldo will be working for FIFA and Brazilian TV.

“The Germans are very strong but Spain are a great team because they are so aggressive, compact and fast,” the former Madrid, Barca, Inter Milan and AC Milan star said.”They are Brazil’s biggest rival for the World Cup.”