For more than a decade, the world of soccer has been divided by a single question: Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi? The debate has enthralled fans worldwide, with some passionately supporting one player over the other. However, Cristiano Ronaldo himself has now declared that the long-standing “rivalry” between him and Messi is no more, especially since they both left their European clubs for new horizons – Ronaldo joining Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia and Messi moving to Inter Miami in the US.
Ronaldo expressed his perspective, saying, “I don’t see things that way, the rivalry is gone. It was good, the fans liked it. Those who like Cristiano Ronaldo don’t have to hate Messi. They’re both very good, they changed football history.” The 38-year-old made these remarks while preparing to represent Portugal in European Championship qualifiers.
Ronaldo and Messi’s careers reached their zenith while playing for Spanish clubs, Real Madrid and Barcelona, respectively, intensifying the rivalry not only between them but also among their fervent supporters. During their time in Spain, the duo dominated the sport. Messi concluded his tenure at Barcelona with an impressive four Champions League titles, while Ronaldo departed Spanish football with five, including a remarkable three consecutive victories with Real Madrid from 2016 to 2018. Messi also claimed 10 La Liga titles, while Ronaldo secured two.
In terms of individual accolades, they collectively won 12 out of the 13 Ballon d’Or awards bestowed between 2008 and 2021 – Ronaldo earning five and Messi seven.
Throughout their Spanish football careers, both players shattered goal-scoring records. Messi left Barcelona with an astonishing 672 goals in 778 matches, while Ronaldo scored an incredible 450 goals in 438 appearances for Real Madrid.
Reflecting on their relationship, Ronaldo remarked, “We are respected throughout the world, it’s the most important. He is following his path, I am following mine. He’s done well, from what I’ve seen. We carry on, the legacy continues, the rivalry – I don’t see it that way.” He added, “I have said, we shared the stage for 15 years, and we ended up, I wouldn’t say friends, but we are colleagues and we respect each other.”
Regarding his move to the Saudi Pro League (SPL) and the criticism it has received, Ronaldo acknowledged that it’s normal for leagues to face scrutiny and controversy. He credited himself with contributing to the growth of the SPL and attracting other star players to join the league. “I knew, and I keep saying, everyone thought I was crazy… The crazy is not so crazy anymore,” he said. Since Ronaldo’s transfer to Saudi Arabia, several other high-profile players, including Neymar, Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kanté, Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mané, and Marcelo Brozović, have also made moves to the SPL.
“As an Al-Nassr player, I knew this was going to happen, it is a privilege to change the culture of a country and football, having big names makes me proud. I was a pioneer, and I am proud of that,” Ronaldo emphasized. “What I want is to continue to grow always, may it become world-class.”