Cristiano Ronaldo has spoken out about his rivalry with Lionel Messi, which he now considers “over”.
A page turns. The absence of Cristiano Ronaldo among the 30 finalists for the Ballon d’Or 2023, a first for twenty years, marks the end of a glorious era in the history of football. If Lionel Messi, crowned world champion in 2022 with Argentina, will again be one of the favorites this year, the time when the two former La Liga monsters fought over all the individual awards is well and truly over. It is the Portuguese himself who says so.
“The rivalry with Messi is overhe said at a press conference, before the two matches of his selection against Slovakia and Luxembourg, in the Euro 2024 qualifiers. It was a good rivalry for the spectators, who liked it. Anyone who loves Cristiano shouldn’t hate Messi. And vice versa. Both are very good, they have changed and continue to change the history of football. We are respected all over the world and that is the most important thing. »
“He makes his way, I make mine”
A world that they have both decided to explore seven months apart, since Lionel Messi (36) has been playing since this summer at Inter Miami in the United States while Cristiano Ronaldo (38) has joined Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia last January. “He makes his way, I make mineadded the former Mancunian. From what I saw, he did well. The legacy continues. » The dream made by some leaders to associate them under the same jersey will probably never come true.
“I said it before, we shared the stage for 15 years and we ended up being, I wouldn’t say friends, but professional colleagues and we respect each other”, concluded the captain of the Selecçao. A Portuguese team which, after four days, is in first place in its group, with 12 points and two lengths ahead of the Slovaks.
