Argentine football great Lionel Messi has spoken about his long-running rivalry with Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, saying their competition was never personal despite years of intense battles on the pitch.
The two football legends dominated world football for over a decade, especially during their time at FC Barcelona and Real Madrid between 2009 and 2018. During that period, fans constantly compared both players as they pushed each other to win trophies and individual awards.
In a recent interview on Argentine television, Messi explained that their rivalry was purely based on sport and competition.
He said the battles between them were natural because they played for different clubs fighting for the same titles.
According to him, Barcelona and Real Madrid were always competing at the highest level, which made the comparison between him and Ronaldo unavoidable.
Messi also made it clear that there was never any personal problem between them.
He said their relationship remained respectful throughout their careers, even though they rarely spent time together outside matches or award events.
He added that whenever they met, it was always in a professional and cordial manner.
The World Cup winner concluded that both players are now in different stages of their lives, but their rivalry remains one of the most memorable in football history, driven only by sporting ambition and not personal conflict.
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