Messi opens up on Ronaldo rivalry

Buenos Aires: Lionel Messi has reflected on his iconic rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo describing it as a “beautiful sporting rivalry” and insisting that there was never any personal animosity between the two football legends.

Speaking in an interview on The Chicken Thing Messi said the rivalry was driven mainly by football competition and comparisons made by fans and the media during their peak years at FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF.

The Argentine superstar stated that despite years of competition for trophies, goals and individual honours, both players always maintained mutual respect.

Messi says rivalry was purely sporting

Messi explained that comparisons between him and Ronaldo became inevitable because they were competing at the highest level in Spanish football and European competitions.

“Those comparisons or competitions are something natural in the world of soccer. It’s normal, just like it happens with clubs or national teams, but it was never anything beyond sports,” Messi said.

The rivalry intensified during the famous El Clasico clashes between Barcelona and Real Madrid, where both stars regularly produced match-winning performances.

“I was at Barcelona, and he was at Real Madrid, playing Clasicos, and we were competing for everything both collectively and individually, so people were always comparing us,” Messi added.

According to Messi, the extraordinary achievements of both players helped make the rivalry even more historic and globally followed.

“We were always on good terms”

Messi also addressed long-standing public curiosity regarding his personal relationship with Ronaldo.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner clarified that although they did not frequently interact outside matches and award ceremonies, there was always respect between them.

“We didn’t meet often except during matches or award ceremonies, where everyone was always watching to see whether he or I would win,” Messi said.

“But we were always on good terms. Now we’re far away and at different stages of our lives, but what happened was a beautiful sporting rivalry,” he added.

The comments have once again sparked discussions among football fans about one of the greatest rivalries in sports history.

Rivalry defined a football generation

Messi and Ronaldo dominated world football for nearly two decades, rewriting records and sharing most major individual honours between them.

Messi remains the highest goal scorer in La Liga history with 474 goals.

Ronaldo, meanwhile, holds the record for most goals scored in the UEFA Champions League with 140 goals.

From 2008 to 2017, the two stars shared every Ballon d’Or award except one, with Messi winning the trophy eight times and Ronaldo claiming it five times.

Their rivalry became one of the defining narratives of modern football and significantly elevated the global popularity of Spanish football during that era.

Both stars continue careers in different leagues

Although both players are now in the later stages of their careers, they continue to remain active in professional football.

Messi currently plays for Inter Miami CF in Major League Soccer, while Ronaldo represents Al Nassr FC in Saudi Arabia.

Football fans could potentially witness another chapter of the rivalry during the FIFA World Cup 2026 if Argentina and Portugal progress to the quarterfinal stage.

Such a clash could mark one of the final international meetings between the two football icons.

Messi and Ronaldo by the numbers

The rivalry is also reflected in their remarkable career statistics.

Both players continue to be widely regarded among the greatest footballers in the history of the sport.