In an interview for AS, Lionel Messi delivered a beautiful tribute to his historic rival, Cristiano Ronaldo.
While the eternal debate on the “Goat”, between Lionel Messi And Cristiano Ronaldo, still polarizes football fans, Lionel Messi recalled that this historical rivalry has never been conflictual but deeply stimulating: “Our duel was not a rivalry, it was an engine. It was a very good time for football enthusiasts in general. We pushed each other to be better. It is an unforgettable memory for all enthusiasts“It must be said that the duo was at the top of world football for a decade, Lionel Messi in Barcelona, Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid.
On the ground, this rivalry was exceptional. The figures have something to make you dizzy: Messi signed 672 goals with FC Barcelona, 451 achievements for Cristiano Ronaldo with Real. While the Portuguese displays a total of 934 goals in his career, Argentinian points to 860 achievements. In terms of trophies, the list of the two giants is also particularly rich: 46 titles for Lionel Messi, including the 2018 World Cup, 33 for Cristiano Ronaldo who has never won a World Cup but Euro 2016 with Portugal.
Today, the two men are evolving far from each other. Lionel Messi is currently 6th in the East Conference in MLS in the United States, while Cristiano Ronaldo points to 4th position by Saudi Pro League with Al-Nassr. What about a potential last confrontation between the two legends? The last opportunity could be during the 2026 World Cup on the final fireworks of a rivalry that will have marked a decade.