Lionel Messi has spoken openly on his ‘beautiful sporting rivalry’ with Cristiano Ronaldo that has seen two of football’s greatest-ever players clash a number of times throughout their careers.
Now playing for Inter Miami in the United States and Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia respectively, the duo were once battling it out at the highest level for Barcelona and Real Madrid.
They also had a personal rivalry, trading Ballon d’Or victories over several years – Messi has eight, and Ronaldo has five.
‘What happened was a beautiful sporting rivalry,’ Messi told Pollo Alvarez ahead of both the World Cup and this weekend’s El Clasico match between the duo’s former Spanish sides. ‘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.
Lionel Messi (right) has spoken out on his multi-year ‘beautiful sporting rivalry’ with Cristiano Ronaldo (left)
He also offered Lamine Yamal (pictured) the highest of praise ahead of the weekend’s El Clasico match-up
‘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.’
The next generation of players are now starring for Barca and Madrid with teenager Lamine Yamal the talisman for Messi’s former side.
The two clubs will do battle this weekend in the latest episode of El Clasico – with Yamal expected to play a key role. Like Messi, he wears No 10 for the Catalan club, and is known for his impressive dribbling skills and passing ability.
And that’s something Messi has noticed. Speaking at an Adidas event following the release of their official World Cup advert, which the Argentine and Yamal both star in – Messi said Yamal reminds him of ‘a young me’.
‘There’s a new generation of footballers who are very good and have many years ahead of them,’ Messi said. ‘But if I had to choose one because of his age, what he’s done so far, and the future he could have, it would be Lamine.
‘There’s no doubt, for me he’s the best.’
Yamal and Messi could come face to face this summer at the World Cup, with Argentina and Spain among the favourites.
While Messi captained Argentina to glory at the 2022 tournament, Yamal starred as Spain won the European Championship two years later.
