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Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have taken the world by storm since they began their careers in the mid 2000s. Both stars have broken numerous records and won nearly every tournament they've participated in. They have also picked up numerous awards.
Both legends made blockbuster moves during the recent summer transfer window. They left Barcelona and Juventus, with both clubs looking to reduce their wage budgets. Lionel Messi has made the switch to PSG, where he has been tasked with bringing the Champions League trophy to France.
Cristiano Ronaldo has returned to Manchester United, where it all started for the star when he was still a teenager: The Theater of Dreams.
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Now in the twilight of their careers, the duo are looking to win what could be one of their last ever chances at a Ballon d'Or. The duo's rivalry at the awards has now spanned across a decade. The two legends have had the chance to talk about each other at length.
So without further ado, here are five great quotes from Lionel Messi on Cristiano Ronaldo:
#5 It's special winning the Ballon d'Or after watching Cristiano Ronaldo win: Lionel Messi
Cristiano Ronaldo picked up successive Ballon d'Ors after two years of domination in the Champions League. After that, Lionel Messi was elated to finally win an award.
The Argentine star, who scored 52 goals during the calendar year, noted how glad he was to win after having to watch Ronaldo win it. He said:
"It is a very special moment for me to be back here on this stage, winning again another Ballon d'Or after being there in the audience watching Cristiano win. It's incredible, this is my fifth. It's much more than anything I've dreamed of as a kid. I want to thank everyone who voted for me, and I want to thank my teammates."
#4 I would pass the ball to him: Lionel Messi on Cristiano Ronaldo
Although they are both quality goalscorers, Lionel Messi is admittedly the better playmaker. Lionel Messi once noted he would pass the ball to Ronaldo if they had played together. Speaking to Mundo Deportivo about the Portuguese maestro back in 2019, he said:
“If we played together, I think I would (have) pass(ed) the ball to him, yes … Real without Ronaldo have lost many goals, but it was obvious it would (have) happened. Not only goals, but Cristiano also brings many other things. If a team loses a player who scored 50 goals per season, it’s noticeable. Real Madrid have great players, but Cristiano scored 50 goals per season."
#3 It would be nice if he were still here: Lionel Messi on Cristiano Ronaldo
Lionel Messi noted that Juventus had become a stronger team because of Cristiano Ronaldo's presence. He was full of praise and respect for the star's prowess.
Messi also made it clear that he missed Ronaldo playing in La Liga, acknowledging that it was difficult but nice. He said:
“I have a lot of respect for Juventus. I think they are a very strong team, with very good players – and with the arrival of Cristiano, even more so. With the victory against Atletico de Madrid, they’ve got a big advantage. It was nice playing against Cristiano even if it was difficult. I enjoyed winning cups when he was at Madrid. It would be nice if he were still there."
#2 We try to achieve the best every year: Lionel Messi on Cristiano Ronaldo
While both players were in La Liga, the honor of the league's top scorer constantly flitted between them. Cristiano Ronaldo scored an astonishing 40 goals in the 2010-11 season. Lionel Messi reacted by scoring a vibrant 50 goals in the next season. They've clearly continued to push each other to break records and reach new heights, and Messi is aware of Ronaldo's brilliance. He stated:
"We try to achieve the best every year for our team, and what is said outside of that I don't think is very important. He is a phenomenal player with a lot of quality. All the world knows, and that is why he is one of the best of the world."
He added:
"There are many admirable athletes. Rafa Nadal, Federer, LeBron - in all sports there is always someone who stands out and is admirable for his work. Cristiano stands out in football. There are many who stand out and always do their best."
#1 He has scored goals as always: Lionel Messi on Cristiano Ronaldo
Very recently, Lionel Messi took some questions about life at PSG in an interview, and he was also asked about Cristiano Ronaldo as well.
According to Messi, the Portuguese star has adapted to life at Old Trafford and is scoring goals impressively. He said:
"United are a very strong team with great players. Cristiano already knew the club, but that was in another stage and now he has adapted in an impressive way. From the beginning he has scored goals as always and had no problems adapting."
Messi further added:
"In the Premier League, [Manchester United] are not as good as we all thought, but it is a very difficult and even competition in which things take a lot of turns. After December it changes a lot and anything can happen."
