NewKerala.com

Key Points

Lionel Messi opened up about his legendary rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo, calling it a golden era for football. He credited their competition for pushing both to stay at the top for over a decade. Messi recently won his record 8th Ballon d'Or, further cementing his legacy. The Argentina star also reflected on finally winning the World Cup after heartbreak in 2014.

Key Points: Messi Calls Cristiano Ronaldo Rivalry a Golden Era for Football

  • Messi acknowledges Ronaldo rivalry fueled their success
  • Both dominated Ballon d'Or for 15 years
  • Messi won 8th Ballon d'Or in 2023
  • Rivalry defined modern football's golden era
2 min read

Always been a great battle with Cristiano Ronaldo: Messi on his immense rivalry with Portugal superstar

Lionel Messi reflects on his historic Ballon d'Or battle with Cristiano Ronaldo, calling it a golden era that defined modern football.

"It's always been a great battle with Cristiano Ronaldo... a golden era for us and every football fan. – Lionel Messi"

New Delhi May 17

Argentina's FIFA World Cup-winning star striker Lionel Messi reflected on his immense rivalry with legendary footballer Cristiano Ronaldo for the Ballon d'Or between 2008 and 2023.

In a video posted by Ballon d'Or on X Messi said, " Its always been a great battle with Cristiano Ronaldo. Its always been a great battle in sporting terms I think we've fed off each other with this rivalry because we're both great competitors. He too always wanted to win everything all the time. It was a golden era for us and for every football fan. We deserve alot of credit for staying at the top for so long. Because as they say, Its easy to get there. What's difficult is staying there. We stayed at the top for ten fifteen years, I dont know. It was spectacular and remains a great memory for everyone."

https://x.com/ballondor/status/1923729630915150047

Last year, Argentina's World Cup-winning legend Lionel Messi equalled Portugal icon and contemporary Cristiano Ronaldo's record of most hat-tricks for a national team during his side's FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers match against Bolivia.

In 2023, Messi was crowned with the prestigious Ballon d'Or award for the eighth time in his decorated career on Monday night, an award that serves as a reminder of his brilliance as he reaches the final moments of his career.

With this award, Messi became the first player from Major League Soccer (MLS) to win the prestigious award. He represents the club Inter Miami. He previously won the award in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019 and 2021.

Messi's career which lasted for almost 30 years saw him heartbroken in 2014 after missing out on the World Cup and eight years later channelling the inner Maradona and redeeming himself by bringing the most prized possession - the World Cup trophy back to his homeland, Argentina.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
What a legendary rivalry! As an Indian football fan, I feel blessed to have witnessed both Messi and Ronaldo in their prime. Their competition pushed each other to greater heights. 🏆 Though I support Messi more, we must respect Ronaldo's incredible achievements too. Both are GOATs in their own way!
P
Priya M.
Messi's humility shines through even in victory. That's why he's loved worldwide. While Ronaldo is more aggressive, Messi lets his game do the talking. As an Indian, I relate more to Messi's quiet confidence - reminds me of our cricket legend Sachin!
A
Arjun S.
Both are legends but let's be honest - Messi's World Cup win settles the debate. Ronaldo fans can argue about stats but football is about winning when it matters most. That Argentina vs France final was pure magic! 🇦🇷
S
Sunita R.
Why must we always compare? Can't we appreciate both? They gave us 15+ years of unforgettable football. In India we understand this well - just like we appreciate both Sachin and Kohli without constant comparisons. Football is the real winner here!
V
Vikram J.
Respect to Messi for acknowledging Ronaldo. But let's not forget - Ronaldo achieved greatness in multiple leagues while Messi spent most career in Barcelona's comfort zone. That Saudi move shows Ronaldo's hunger even at 38! 🐐
N
Neha P.
As a woman football fan from Mumbai, I'm just happy to see such sportsmanship between rivals. Their mutual respect is what makes them true champions. Hope our Indian players learn from this - healthy competition makes everyone better!

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50