According to GOAL, Cristiano Ronaldo recently opened out about his relationship with Lionel Messi, stating that there is no reason to “hate” the Argentine superstar and highlighting the value of respect for one another.
Speaking to reporters, Ronaldo acknowledged the historical significance of both players to the game and shared his opinion that the period of their bitter rivalry has long since passed. He urged supporters to recognize Lionel Messi and himself for their important contributions to the game.
Cristiano Ronaldo spoke on the rivalry, saying:
“I don’t see things like that, the rivalry is gone. It was good, spectators liked it. Those who like Cristiano Ronaldo don’t have to hate Messi and vice versa”
“We’ve done well, we have changed the history of football. We are respected all over the world, that’s the most important thing. He’s followed his path and I have followed mine, regardless of playing outside of Europe.”
“From what I’ve seen, he’s been doing well and so have I. The legacy lives on, but I don’t see the rivalry like that. We shared the stage many times, it was 15 years. I’m not saying we’re friends, I’ve never had dinner with him, but we’re professional colleagues and we respect each other.”
Both competitors, though, have started fresh chapters in their careers. While Messi travelled to the United States to join Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS), Ronaldo made an unexpected move to Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
Despite living in different parts of the world, Ronaldo and Messi continue to have a lasting influence on football. They continue to be praised and admired by sports fans all across the world, demonstrating the significant impact they have had on the game.
