Cristiano Ronaldo ready for another battle with Lionel Messi While Tito Martino, the Argentina manager, was equally supportive of his talisman, whatever the statistical insistence of the season so far. "Yes," said Martino when asked if he had voted for Messi in the Ballon d'Or ballot. But you can't take out of the decision process that I am Argentinian. My heart lies with Messi. I cannot separate sentiment from my objective decision. Whatever season Messi has had on footballing grounds I would still vote for him. This was exactly what the organisers of Tuesday's collision will have wanted to hear. This is a game being sold as football's heavyweight championship. The "Galacticos in Manchester" the poster outside Old Trafford boldly insisted, above a picture of the two of them apparently snarling at each other. This is the chance to catch the biggest rivalry in the game, to be there when the sparks fly. Yet, whatever the hype, it is not an offering that can legitimately described as having caught the imagination of the local football-going public. According to an official spokesman for World XI, the match promoters, "near enough 30,000" tickets have been sold. With the possibility for paying on the gate, he added, the organisers hope another 20,000 will turn up. At £60 for an adult ticket and £30 for a child, it is not a cheap watch for a friendly international. Particularly as many of those who will be on display are well known figures in Mancunian football. The Argentinian squad boasts five players more than familiar to regulars at the two local clubs: Sergio Aguero, Pablo Zabaletta and Martin Demichelis will be representing City, Angel Di Maria United; plus there is the return to international favour for Carlos Tevez, who played for both. "They are playing with the best players and have the best facilities so it is something that is very good for the manager of Argentina," said Martino of his Mancunian cohort. But whatever the weight of selection, it is likely that sentiment locally is already decided. The crowd is more than likely overwhelmingly to side with the Portuguese, simply because of the presence of the player who remains etched in the affection here. And it's not Nani. There is no doubt who the locals would vote for if they had the chance to cast a ballot in the Ballon d'Or deliberations. For many of the regulars who file through the gates at Old Trafford, Ronaldo remains the great lost hope of Manchester United. His last appearance in this stadium was in March 2013, when he scored for Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final and refused to celebrate because of his long-standing fondness for a club where he played for six seasons. He remains the player supporters hereabouts most covet, his name more frequently chanted ahead of more recent signings. "I'm sure he's proud to be here and to play again here," said Carvalho of Ronaldo's return to the stadium he so effortlessly graced. Messi, on the other hand, has only played at Old Trafford once before, in the Champions League semi final of 2008. He has none of the connection with the place that Ronaldo so evidently enjoys. Which means tomorrow he has the singular motivation of emerging victorious in his great rival's second home. "It is normal about the game to talk about Messi and Ronaldo," said Carvalho. But don't forget it is also Portugal against Argentina. It was not entirely clear as he spoke that anyone was listening.