In an interview with Piers Morgan, Cristiano Ronaldo spoke about his relationship with Lionel Messi and the rivalry they've shared in football for more than a decade.
Ronaldo is seen talking candidly about his rivalry and relationship with the Argentina captain, Lionel Messi. The two have been rivals on the pitch for nearly two decades but Ronaldo reveals he has respect for the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner.
He continued: "I'm not friend of him in terms of, what I mean is a friend is the guy who is with you in your house, speaking on the phone, no, but it's like a team-mate. He’s a guy that I really respect the way he always speaks about me. Even his wife or my wife, my girlfriend, they always respect and they're from Argentina. My girlfriend is from Argentina. So good. What I am going to say about Messi? A good guy who does everything for football."
Ronaldo still has a contract with the 20-time English champions until the end of the 2022 Premiere League, but he is doubtful to be with the club beyond the end of the January transfer window.
#1 What happened?
Source: gettyimages
Ronaldo is seen talking candidly about his rivalry and relationship with the Argentina captain, Lionel Messi. The two have been rivals on the pitch for nearly two decades but Ronaldo reveals he has respect for the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner.
#2 What did he say?
“Amazing player, he is magic, top," Ronaldo said on Piers Morgan Uncensored. "As a person, we share the stage 16 years, imagine, 16 years, we share. So, I have great relationship with him."He continued: "I'm not friend of him in terms of, what I mean is a friend is the guy who is with you in your house, speaking on the phone, no, but it's like a team-mate. He’s a guy that I really respect the way he always speaks about me. Even his wife or my wife, my girlfriend, they always respect and they're from Argentina. My girlfriend is from Argentina. So good. What I am going to say about Messi? A good guy who does everything for football."
#3 The bigger picture:
Ronaldo and Messi have made a spectacular race spanning over a decade and defying the convention of football to carve out the greatest sporting rivalries of all time. They’re known for sharing 12 Ballon d’Or awards, with Messi holding the edge, compared to Ronaldo’s five.#4 In three photos:
Source: gettyimages
Source: gettyimages
Source: gettyimages
#5 What next for Ronaldo?
In the interview with Morgan, the attacker also declared that he is planning to play for another two or three years, but he is considered to leave Man United after the 2022 World Cup."I want to play two years more, three years more. So two or three years maximum. I want to finish at 40. I think 40 will be a good age... but I don't know, I don't know the future," he said."Sometimes you plan one thing for your life and as I said many times, life is dynamic and you never know what's going to happen."Ronaldo still has a contract with the 20-time English champions until the end of the 2022 Premiere League, but he is doubtful to be with the club beyond the end of the January transfer window.