The Lionel Messi Cristiano Ronaldo rivalry is probably one of the biggest in sports on individual level. If modern tennis has Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal and basketball has Kobe Bryant vs Lebron James, football has these two La Liga players. The names Messi and Ronaldo have been synonymous to their respective clubs. Barcelona is to Leo and Real Madrid is to Cristiano. Their teams have figured in so many battles in different competitions but one thing that fans are more interested about are the moments when these two players come close each other and score goals.
Funny interview on Ronaldo and Messi together in one table
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, apparently, are not friends. However, they don't speak ill of each other. They may both be very competitive on the field and always face off for top individual awards like Ballon D'Or that doesn't mean they hold grudge against each other. In fact, for the Real Madrid star, he thinks that the Lionel Messi Cristiano Ronaldo Rivalry that fans are enjoying is normal and part of his life.
"This is part of my life," Ronaldo said of his rivalry with Messi in an interview with World Soccer. "It is normal that people compare us. I am used to it. It happened to me at Manchester United and I know how to manage it.
"We are football colleagues. Outside of football I have no relationship with Messi, but not with other players either. It is a positive rivalry."
The Ballon D'Or is something that most fans of the Argentinean player brag when they step on the Lionel Messi Cristiano Ronaldo debate. As of today, Ronaldo has two and Messi has four. For Cristiano, winning such award is something that tells of how of a good team they are and not individually.
"Individual prizes are the result of having achieved collective objectives," Ronaldo added. "We had a fantastic season. We won the Champions League, the Copa del Rey and the UEFA Super Cup.
"A trophy like the Golden Boot is the prize for playing well as a team. I will not lie. I really wanted to win it.
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"Maybe it has been the best for collective or individual prizes. But I have been at the same level for the last six or seven years."
Can these comments finally settle the Lionel Messi Cristiano Ronaldo debate?
