Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have been the preeminent figures in global football for over a decade. Both athletes are now in the twilight stages of their careers, with Ronaldo currently playing for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League and Messi competing in Major League Soccer with Inter Miami.

During their peak years in La Liga, while representing Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively, they faced each other annually, creating a fierce rivalry. The contest for individual accolades was predominantly a duel between the two, but the landscape of football has since evolved, with emerging talents such as Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane taking centre stage.

Numerous reports have indicated that Ronaldo has consistently felt a desire to outperform Messi, often facing playful jabs from his Manchester United teammates referencing the Argentine. Their rivalry reached its zenith during Ronaldo's tenure at Real Madrid, and the Portuguese star has recently shared insights regarding his relationship with Messi.

Cristiano Ronaldo on his relationship with Lionel Messi

In an interview with La Sexta, Ronaldo remarked, “I have never had a negative relationship with Messi. Quite the opposite.”

When asked about the possibility of another rivalry akin to his and Messi’s, Ronaldo expressed, “I hope so, as it would greatly benefit football… however, I believe it is unlikely.”

During their prime, Ronaldo and Messi faced each other for nine seasons while representing Real Madrid and Barcelona, respectively. They are among the most accomplished players in the history of football, collectively amassing 77 official titles (Messi with 44 and Ronaldo with 33) and frequently surpassing the 50-goal mark in a single season. Both players have also achieved the remarkable feat of scoring over 800 goals each for their clubs and national teams. Ronaldo currently holds the record for the most official career goals.

The intensity of their rivalry has drawn comparisons to legendary duels in other sports, such as Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna in motorsports, as well as Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in tennis.

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