Argentina legend Lionel Messi has reflected on his historic rivalry with Portuguese icon Cristiano Ronaldo.
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The two stars dominated football in the late-2000s and throughout the 2010s as they traded Ballon D'Or wins and La Liga titles.
Between 2008 and 2017, the two stars won every Ballon D'Or award between them, with Messi winning in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2015, while Ronaldo won in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017. Messi added a further three in 2019, 2021 and 2023.
While the two are no longer battling for football's top individual prize, they have prolonged their playing careers with Messi starring for Inter Miami in the MLS, and Ronaldo spearheading the influx of players plying their trade in Saudi Arabia.
Speaking to France Football, Messi discussed the rivalry the pair shared and revealed the two pushed each other to greater heights.
"It’s always been a great battle, in sporting terms,” Messi said.
"I think we’ve fed off each other with this rivalry because we’re both great competitors. He, too, always wanted to win everything all the time," the ex-PSG forward added.
The 2022 World Cup winner said it was a treat for all football fans and the two stars should get a lot of credit for their longevity.
"It was a golden era for us and for every football fan," Barcelona's record goalscorer said.
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"We deserve a lot of credit for staying at the top for so long. Because, as they say, it’s easy to get there. What’s difficult is staying there. We stayed at the top for 10, 15 years, I don’t know... It was spectacular and remains a great memory for everyone," he concluded.
