Following his goal for Inter Miami in their victory over Porto on Matchday 2 of Group A in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, Lionel Messi spoke with the press and addressed a range of topics. One of the most compelling questions centered on his relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo.
“I have a lot of respect for him, for the career he’s had and continues to have, because he’s still competing at the highest level,” Messi said of Ronaldo in an interview outside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, shared by DSports. “And there’s nothing strange about any of it — it’s just how it should be.”
The Argentine star reflected on his rivalry with CR7 during their peak years in European soccer. “The competition was on the field, each of us trying to do our best for our team in the moment and place we were in. But of course, everything stayed on the field, like it always should,” said Leo. “Well, that’s how it has to be. I think it’s normal.”
Finally, Messi clarified that outside the field, there has always been mutual respect: “Off the field, we’re two normal people. We’re not friends, obviously, because we don’t spend time together, but whatever we’ve shared has always been with a lot of respect.”
Cristiano Ronaldo is put under pressure by Lionel Messi during a UEFA Champions League match between Barcelona and Juventus in 2020
What has Ronaldo said about his relationship with Messi?
These comments are in line with what Cristiano Ronaldo said about his relationship with Lionel Messi in an interview earlier this year with El Chiringuito. “I’ve never had a bad relationship, quite the opposite,” said the Portuguese star at the time. “We shared the stage for 15 years and ended up being, not friends, but professional colleagues, and we respect each other.”
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Asked whether there were tensions between them during the peak of the Barcelona–Real Madrid rivalry, CR7 was clear: “I don’t see it that way, the rivalry is over. It was good, the fans liked it. Those who love Cristiano Ronaldo don’t have to hate Messi. We’re both very good, we changed the history of soccer.”
In the end, Cristiano expressed satisfaction with what he and Messi have accomplished throughout their careers. “We are respected all over the world, and that’s the most important thing,” he said. “He does his thing, I do mine. He’s done well, from what I’ve seen. He continues, the legacy goes on.”
When was the last time Messi and Ronaldo faced off?
Messi and Ronaldo have faced each other 37 times between 2008 and 2023, across both club and international competition. The Argentine holds a clear edge, with 17 wins, 9 draws, and 11 losses. Their most recent matchup came in a January 2023 friendly between Paris Saint-Germain and Riyadh Season, with the French side winning 5–4. That day, Leo scored once and CR7 found the net twice.
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