Messi Opens Up on Rivalry With Ronaldo: ‘No Personal Animosity’

It was ‘beautiful’ says Lionel Messi on Cristiano Ronaldo rivalry 

Messi discusses his rivalry with Ronaldo, insisting there was no bad blood and crediting their competition for defining an era in world football.

In a chat with Pollo Alvarez, Messi looked back on his rivalry with Ronaldo, saying it was all sport and no personal feud between the two icons...

Lionel Messi called his extended rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo a “beautiful sporting rivalry,” making clear there was never any personal bad blood between the two football legends.

Together, Messi and Ronaldo collected 13 Ballon d’Or awards, shaping an entire era of the sport.

Speaking with TV host Pollo Alvarez, the Inter Miami forward reflected on their intense clashes during their years in Spain. 

“What happened was a beautiful sporting rivalry,” the Argentine great told TV show host Pollo Alvarez.

“It's something natural in the world of football. I was at Barcelona, and he was at Real Madrid, and we were competing for everything both collectively and individually, so people were always comparing us. 

“But our relationship was always good and respectful, and everything that happened was purely athletic. There was nothing personal.

 “We didn't meet often except at matches or award ceremonies, and we were always on good terms. Now we're at different stages in our lives, but what happened was a beautiful sporting rivalry.”