Cristiano Ronaldo said his rivalry with Lionel Messi "is gone" having both already "changed the history of football."

The pair have dominated the sport for over a decade, winning a combined 79 trophies and being the only two players to have scored over 800 goals each.

"I don't see things like that, the rivalry is gone," Ronaldo said. "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."

World Cup winner Messi joined Inter Miami CF in June as a free agent after two seasons at Paris Saint-Germain.

Argentina captain Messi became the most decorated football player when he won his 44th trophy after helping Inter Miami lift the 2023 Leagues Cup in August.

Ronaldo, meanwhile, won his first title with Saudi Pro-League side Al-Nassr, the club he joined in January from Manchester United, when he lifted the Arab Club Champions Cup last month.

The Portugal skipper became the only player to have scored 850 goals in Saturday's 5-1 win at Al Hazem.

"It's a historic landmark," Ronaldo, 38, said. "For me it was a source of pride the numbers I achieved, which I didn't think I could reach.

"But I want more. While playing the game, the bar has to be high, thinking big."

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner is also proud to have become the pioneer for other star players to have joined the Saudi Pro League.

At the start of the summer, Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kanté joined Saudi Pro League defending champions Al Ittihad, Senegal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy signed for Al Ahli, and former Chelsea star Kalidou Koulibaly joined rivals Al Hilal.

Moreover, Marcelo Brozovic moved to Ronaldo's Al Nassr, Roberto Firmino completed a free transfer move to Al Ahli after leaving Liverpool and Brazil star Neymar signed for Al Hilal following a €90m transfer from PSG.

"I knew this [transfer market] was going to happen, I said it six months ago and everyone thought I was the crazy one," Ronaldo said. "But, after all, the crazy guy is not that crazy, and it turns out to be normal to play in the Arab league.

"For me, it was a great privilege to change the culture of a country in terms of football and to have great stars go to Saudi Arabia.

"I was the pioneer, and I am proud of it. What I want most is to continue to always evolve, so that it [the league] is top notch."

SOURCE

😎

AImiron:
Cristiano Ronaldo said his rivalry with Lionel Messi "is gone" having both already "changed the history of football."

The pair have dominated the sport for over a decade, winning a combined 79 trophies and being the only two players to have scored over 800 goals each.

"I don't see things like that, the rivalry is gone," Ronaldo said. "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."

World Cup winner Messi joined Inter Miami CF in June as a free agent after two seasons at Paris Saint-Germain.

Argentina captain Messi became the most decorated football player when he won his 44th trophy after helping Inter Miami lift the 2023 Leagues Cup in August.

Ronaldo, meanwhile, won his first title with Saudi Pro-League side Al-Nassr, the club he joined in January from Manchester United, when he lifted the Arab Club Champions Cup last month.

The Portugal skipper became the only player to have scored 850 goals in Saturday's 5-1 win at Al Hazem.

"It's a historic landmark," Ronaldo, 38, said. "For me it was a source of pride the numbers I achieved, which I didn't think I could reach.

"But I want more. While playing the game, the bar has to be high, thinking big."

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner is also proud to have become the pioneer for other star players to have joined the Saudi Pro League.

At the start of the summer, Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kanté joined Saudi Pro League defending champions Al Ittihad, Senegal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy signed for Al Ahli, and former Chelsea star Kalidou Koulibaly joined rivals Al Hilal.

Moreover, Marcelo Brozovic moved to Ronaldo's Al Nassr, Roberto Firmino completed a free transfer move to Al Ahli after leaving Liverpool and Brazil star Neymar signed for Al Hilal following a €90m transfer from PSG.

"I knew this [transfer market] was going to happen, I said it six months ago and everyone thought I was the crazy one," Ronaldo said. "But, after all, the crazy guy is not that crazy, and it turns out to be normal to play in the Arab league.

"For me, it was a great privilege to change the culture of a country in terms of football and to have great stars go to Saudi Arabia.

"I was the pioneer, and I am proud of it. What I want most is to continue to always evolve, so that it [the league] is top notch."

SOURCE

Nlfpmod mynd44 frontpage boss

E still dey pain am. He didn't make balon dior shortlist

Ronaldo has always admired messi he was just too damn proud to admit it

This is why I like Ronaldo. He says his mind and don't pretend. I love Cristiano Ronaldo.

phemmyfour:
E still dey pain am. He didn't make balon dior shortlist

He’s always talking about Leo, I can’t remember the last time, Leo mentioned his name. I’m sure he knows his fanbase is full of “pure undiluted zero-joy ppl”. Hatred na their middle name. They teach us (MessiFC) how to hate, now there’s no coming back from this, we go press their necks forever

Ronaldo remains the greatest that have ever played the game ... if he represented a country that's known to win world cups, he would have won at least 2 .... its unfortunate that portugal is not that country...they had only qualified for 3 WC in history ( just like Nigeria) b4 2006 ( Ronaldos first) on like Argentina than featured in the first ever world cup and had won 2 and lost in 2 finals in the past... if Messi was Colombian, he would never even smell semis of the world cup even with his exceptional talent ... while if Ronaldo was French or German, he would have won 2 or 3 World cups .... the champions league that represents every top player as well has determined that already, the both played for clubs that are winners and he won more titles than Messi.... halaand would never have won the champions league or Uefa best player or even had a strong shot at winning the balon dor if he was still playing for dortmund .... football is not an individual sport, its a team sport , no matter how good u are, u need material .... kane is one of the greatest strikers of his generation but he wasted his years playing for spurs ...he will finally win a title this season with Bayern... Henry had to leave Arsenal to win the champions league, Zidane had to leave Juventus to win the champions league.... so for those that think Messi is better cos he won the world cup , that's very mediocre way of reasoning.... cos we can also argue that he could not pass the round of 16 with psg .... mbappe is a world cup winner , but he will never win the champions league with psg ... just like Ronaldo will never win the WC with portugal even if his age is slashed by half and for those that say portugal have good players , don't forget that Belgium had too so as the Dutch over the years but both still have never won it ... England with all their stars have only played in one final and have never won the Euros ... but what Ronaldo has done in football, no man has ever done it ... what Messi have done , footballers have done it... and please don't mention the amount of balon dor won.... what happened yesterday in Abuja has shown that when it comes to winning votes, the undeserved one might be manipulated to win .... as far as I'm concerned balon dor are still elections.... and elections most times are never fair and are filled with corruption and sentiments.... reason y I will never use balon dor to judge a player ... modric was never better than iniesta b ut history will show he is a balon dor winner .... Benzema wasn't better than Ibrahimovic or Henry , neither is Van djye that finished second at one time , better than Ramos that never even made top 5 .... cannavaro was never better than Maldini as well but he also won it ... okocha never won African best , but we all know he's Nigerias greatest player of all time

Watching those two play is a blessing to me
Special moment
Messi goal against bayern that boten trick OMG
Ronaldo bicycle kick against buffon

Well said..Na because dem no nominate you for Ballon d'or again na
So the spotlight is still on Messi..

That's call respect.. 💯
My Goat 🐐 ❤️

He knows 😏
Great players.

phemmyfour:
E still dey pain am. He didn't make balon dior shortlist

Try and have sense ... at messis age he was nominated top 5... wait till Messi gets to 38 , then u will know whats up

Messi, the player every one wants to be associated with

football news this early morning

Alaye

Oga Ronaldo, messi isn't your rival stop forcing yourself to be in his league.

He has world cup, his 8th ballon d or loading, you are just using mouth to put yourself in his position

Why not allow your current actions do the talking

2 legends.
But people on nairaland will Messi ain’t sh*t.
Other will say Ronaldo is nothing compare to Messi.
You could have your favorite.
But even your Favorite knows that the other guy is a Legend.
Messi is the most decorated.
But someone winning Best footballer in the whole world, not once, not twice…
He’s a Legend.
Lamborghini and Ferrari are both great.
I love Lamborghini more.
But when I see a Ferrari I can’t but admire it.
Messi Ronaldo is like BMW vs Benz.
It’s like Coke vs Pepsi…. I really can’t taste the difference though.
Messi is my favorite.
Ronaldo is not the 2nd best after Messi.
Ronaldo is the other best player.
2 world best, and each has broken different world record… several times.
I duff my hat for the greatest of all time.

AImiron:
He’s always talking about Leo, I can’t remember the Leo mention his name. I’m sure he knows his fanbase is full of “pure undiluted zero-joy ppl”. Hatred na their middle name. They teach how to hate, now there’s no coming back from this

then you wonder who is really hating?


Mention one time Messi came out to say anything positive like this??

bigdawg7:
Ronaldo has always admired messi he was just too damn proud to admit it

Unknown miscreants

Try they reason well for public

Wotoporiously speaking

The leader of the Messi haters association (MHA) obembet, na the problem

I love both but Messi is my fav

Beverlyjean:


Try and have sense ... at messis age he was nominated top 5... wait till Messi gets to 38 , then u will know whats up

Messi don't really give a darn about controversy as much as this guy does. He is too focused on the game.

Respect man

What rivalry? Messi is just having fun playing his game, you're the one in competition with him.