Inter Miami star Lionel Messi has spoken candidly about his long-standing rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo, clarifying that while they are not friends, there has always been deep mutual respect between the two football icons.
In an interview with DSsports, Messi reflected on their intense on-field competition during their legendary La Liga years — with Messi starring for Barcelona and Ronaldo leading Real Madrid — a rivalry that defined a footballing era.
“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 explained that their rivalry was purely professional. “The competition with him was on the pitch. Each of us wanted to do the best for our team. Obviously, as always, everything stayed on the field.”
“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,” he added.
Now playing on separate continents — Messi in the United States with Inter Miami and Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia with Al Nassr — the pair continue to be measured against each other by fans and analysts worldwide. Their rivalry, which spanned over a decade, is widely regarded as one of the greatest in football history.
While debate over who is the greatest continues, Messi’s latest comments highlight the professionalism and mutual admiration that underscored their iconic careers.
