Masters 2017: Ronnie O'Sullivan wants to win with the style of Lionel Messi

Ruling Masters champion Ronnie O'Sullivan says engaging fans is more critical than titles and he needs to be the Lionel Messi of snooker.

World number 13 O'Sullivan starts his journey for a record-breaking seventh Masters crown against China's Liang Wenbo in the first round on Sunday.

Yet, the 41-year-old told BBC Sport: "I need to attempt to win playing an energizing, forceful and assaulting diversion.

"It is OK to win, however I need to win with style."

Experts timetable and BBC scope times

O'Sullivan said he needed fans to have the capacity to state he doesn't simply win, yet he "conveys excitement also".

"I think I have done that over the throughout the last five or six years," he included.

"I have put on some brilliant exhibitions - exhibitions I am exceptionally glad for.

"Some of the time individuals say you can't play that way and win. Indeed, Michael van Gerwen has demonstrated you can, Lionel Messi demonstrates you can, Tiger Woods does, Roger Federer does. I need to attempt to be one of them."

Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi has scored more than 500 objectives at club and worldwide level

Triumph for O'Sullivan at Alexandra Palace would move the 28-time positioning occasion victor clear of Stephen Hendry and see him hold the title he won by whipping Barry Hawkins 10-1 in 2016.

"Regardless I need to win competitions - however for me it is about individuals coming to watch, individuals exchanging on their TVs needing to see great diversion," he said.

"It is extraordinary to get another Masters, not on account of it's the seventh, but rather in light of the fact that it's the Masters. I don't think 'I must break the record', I simply need to win another Masters.

"I need to win another Worlds and another Welsh and China Open. I simply need to win more competitions."

'I won't not play once more'

In spite of the fact that he commanded an uneven last against Hawkins last season, O'Sullivan said a back harm implied he battled and dreaded for his profession.

"I slipped a circle and I couldn't get in the correct position for my shots," he said. "Luckily I defeated that a long time after the Masters and it is not an issue now.

"Be that as it may, it was truly hard rationally. I was battling on the grounds that I wasn't certain in the event that I could ever have the capacity to play appropriately again due to my back.

"Winning the competition is the fundamental objective and that was an awesome box ticked, yet my execution wasn't extraordinary. I have played a considerable measure better and lost competitions. I think I got somewhat fortunate in some ways."

This time around he is far more joyful with his wellness - and his frame - after a troublesome begin to the season.