Messi reflects on 'beautiful' rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo

Messi reflects on 'beautiful' rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo

Lionel Messi has described his long-running rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo as a ‘beautiful sporting rivalry’ while insisting there was never any personal animosity between the two football icons.

The Argentine and the Portuguese won a combined 13 Ballon d’Or titles, defining an era in world football.

Speaking to TV host Pollo Alvarez, the Inter Miami star opened up on their fierce battles during their time in Spain.

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

“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.”