Inter Miami star Lionel Messi has spoken candidly about his long-standing rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo, emphasizing that while the two football icons are not friends, they share deep mutual respect.
In an exclusive interview with DSsports, Messi addressed the years of fierce competition between him and Ronaldo—particularly during their historic clashes in Spain’s El Clasico, where Messi starred for Barcelona and Ronaldo led Real Madrid.
“I have a lot of respect and admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo and for the career he’s had and continues to have, because he’s still competing at the highest level,” Messi said.
He noted that their rivalry was purely professional and limited to the pitch. “The competition with him was on the field. Each of us wanted to do the best for our team. Obviously, as always, everything stayed on the field,” he added.
While the two players are no longer in Europe—Messi now plays in Major League Soccer (MLS) with Inter Miami, and Ronaldo plies his trade in Saudi Arabia with Al Nassr—the debate over who is the greatest of their generation remains a global talking point.
“Off the pitch, we are two normal people. We’re not friends obviously because we don’t spend time together, but we’ve always treated each other with a lot of respect,” Messi concluded.
Despite the lack of a personal relationship, Messi’s remarks reaffirm the professionalism and mutual admiration that has defined one of football’s most iconic rivalries.
Comments