Inter Miami star Lionel Messi has spoken candidly about his long-standing rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo, describing it as one marked by deep respect and admiration.
In a recent interview with DSsports, Messi praised the Portuguese star’s enduring excellence, saying, “I have a lot of respect and admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo, and for the career he’s had and continues to have. He is still competing at the highest level.”
He also addressed their personal relationship, clarifying that while they are not close, there has never been animosity between them.
He said: “I have a lot of respect and admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo, and for the career he’s had and continues to have. He is still competing at the highest level.
“The competition with him was on the pitch… Each of us wanted to do the best for our team. Everything stayed on the pitch.
“Off the pitch, we are two normal guys. We’re not friends because we don’t spend time together, but we’ve always treated each other with a lot of respect.”