After receiving his eighth Ballon d’Or, Lionel Messi took the opportunity to look back on his career, and in particular on his sporting rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo.
These two have captured the eyes of cameras and football lovers for more than a decade. On the one hand Cristiano Ronaldo, brilliant with Manchester United before becoming the figurehead of Real Madrid for nine seasons. On the other hand, Lionel Messi, a true icon of FC Barcelona. Above the rest, the two men almost logically won almost all of the Ballons d’Or between 2008 and 2023. Often opposed by the media, “la Pulga” and “CR7” nonetheless have a real esteem for them. ‘one for the other. Lionel Messi also said it again in his own way.
Crowned Ballon d’Or 2023, the 2022 world champion with Argentina answered questions from France Football and notably mentioned his duel with Cristiano Ronaldo. The opportunity for him to pay a nice tribute to the man who plays today in the Saudi club Al-Nassr. “ It’s a very good fight on a sporting level. We feed off our shared rivalry because we are both great competitors. He also always wanted to win everything, all the time. It was a pleasant moment for both of us and for all football lovers.“
A big moment
And for Lionel Messi, the Portuguese and himself must be recognized for their true value. “ I think we deserve a lot of respect for staying at the top for so long. It is extremely difficult to stay at the top for ten or fifteen years. It was a great moment and I think it will remain a great memory for everyone who followed us. » A tribute which will surely please a Cristiano Ronaldo who seemed a little more teasing towards Lionel Messi, notably “liking” a not the most kind message for the Argentinian after the latter received his eighth Ballon d ‘Gold. Once a competitor, always a competitor.
