One of football’s all-time greats, Lionel Messi, has acknowledged his fellow football legend and frequent rival, Cristiano Ronaldo. Speaking after the Club World Cup match against Porto—where he scored a free-kick for Inter Miami—Messi revealed that he has nothing but respect for Ronaldo.
As posted in a quote on Fabrizio Romano’s X page, Messi said speaking to DB sports:
“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.”
However, addressing rumors that he and Ronaldo had off-field problems, Messi denied the allegations, noting that although they were competitors, it was strictly professional and limited to the pitch.
Messi also stated that while they were not enemies, they were not exactly friends either. Nevertheless, they shared mutual respect for one another.
Recall that Cristiano Ronaldo had also emphasized his respect for Lionel Messi recently, recalling a moment when he had to translate for the Argentine because he couldn't speak or understand English.
Messi played for Barcelona during his prime, while Ronaldo played for Real Madrid—making their rivalry especially intense during El Clásicos.
Ronaldo and Messi fans are naturally not on friendly terms, with both camps arguing that their respective player is the true “GOAT” of football—even though they may support different football clubs. Between them, they have won a total of 13 Ballon d'Or awards, with Messi holding the record at 8 and Ronaldo close behind with 5, although Ronaldo has received the most nominations overall.
In addition, Ronaldo is currently the top scorer in football history, pushing towards the 1000-goal mark. Messi fans, however, often argue that winning a World Cup—something Messi achieved with Argentina—is more significant than scoring 1000 goals. Ronaldo fans, on the other hand, argue that many players have won the World Cup, but not everyone has scored over 930 goals and counting.
Despite the debates among fans, both players have expressed mutual respect for each other—Ronaldo’s son is even reportedl
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