Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo has officially put an end to the long-standing rivalry between himself and Argentine forward Lionel Messi.
During a press conference held on Wednesday before his national team training session in Oeiras, near Lisbon, ahead of the upcoming European Championship qualifiers, the Al Nassr forward made a clear statement, stating that “the rivalry is no more.
For a remarkable 15 years, both Messi and Ronaldo had reigned supreme in the world of football, a dominance that began when Ronaldo clinched his first Ballon d’Or in 2008, followed by Messi’s in 2009.
Remarkably, only two other players, Luka Modric in 2018 and Karim Benzema in 2022, managed to secure the prestigious individual football award during this period.
Ronaldo emphasized, “I don’t perceive it in that manner; the rivalry has concluded.
It was a healthy competition, greatly appreciated by fans. Whether someone is a fan of Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, there’s no need for animosity, as both are exceptionally talented.
We’ve made significant contributions, altering the course of football history, and we will continue to do so. Our global respect is what truly matters.
He continued, “He follows his path, I follow mine, even when we are playing outside of Europe. From my perspective, he has performed admirably, and so have I. It’s about carrying on; the legacy persists.
“I’ve stated there’s no rivalry. We’ve shared the stage for 15 years, and while I wouldn’t say we’re friends, as we’ve never dined together, we are professional colleagues who hold mutual respect for one another.
