Lionel Messi has clarified that there is no friendship with former rival Cristiano Ronaldo despite the two being in the latter stages of their career.
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The diminutive playmaker is currently strutting his stuff at the FIFA Club World Cup with Inter Miami. Earlier this week, the 37-year-old scored a decisive free-kick to earn the Herons a crucial 2-1 win over FC Porto, making the American side the first team to come from behind to win a match at the global spectacle.
The Club World Cup could have actually been the stage where Messi and Ronaldo rivalled each other on a competitive level for a final time. The two players shared the stage at the top of world football for just over a decade, embodying a rivalry between the two clubs most synonymous with them: Real Madrid and Barcelona.
However, the Portuguese hitman now plies his trade at Al Nassr. His contract with the Knights of Najd expires at the end of this month, and this opened the door for clubs competing in the competition to potentially entice him to sign – but he opted against it.
Messi has now lifted the lid on the relationship he has with his long-time rival, stating that he has a lot of respect for the former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus attacker.
"I have a lot of respect and admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo and for the career he’s had and continues to have, because he’s still competing at the highest level,” the Argentine icon told DSports.
"The competition with him was on the pitch. Each of us wanted to do the best for our team. Obviously, as always, everything stayed on the field.
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“Off the pitch, we are two normal people. We’re not friends obviously because we don’t spend time together, but we’ve always treated each other with a lot of respect."
