Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are two of the greatest soccer players to have ever graced the pitch. Both of them have been the headline makers in the sport for over a decade. Their rivalry on the pitch has defined soccer for a long time but what about their relationship off the pitch?
Messi and Ronaldo have been together numerous times as they dominated the major individual awards in soccer for a decade. Such was their domination that the Ballon d’Or award was won by one of the two from 2008-2017.
The duo faced off against each other during their time in Spain with Barcelona and Real Madrid. The rivalry was at its peak as they featured in the famous El-Clasico. They always tried to get a step ahead of each other but let us take a look at what the duo thought about each other off the pitch.
Lionel Messi says it’s difficult to be friends with Cristiano Ronaldo
Lionel Messi is known to be a friendly person as he has shared good bonds with his teammates over the years. But the Argentine has previously admitted that it is difficult to be friends with Ronaldo.
This was not because of the rivalry they had but because of the lack of time. Messi admitted that they couldn’t spend time together which is necessary for a friendship. This meant that the duo couldn’t become good friends over the years.
He said: “Friendship is built through spending time together and getting to know each other. We have no relationship, mainly because we only see each other at awards ceremonies, and that’s the only time we speak. Everything is fine, but our lives don’t cross very often”
The duo has never been able to play together on the same team which would have been a dream for many fans. This has resulted in the soccer world being robbed of what could have been a brilliant friendship bond.
Cristiano Ronaldo wants to have a dinner with Lionel Messi
While Messi thought that the duo didn’t share enough time, Ronaldo has previously talked about wanting to do so. He admitted that the duo have dominated soccer for 15 years but couldn’t spend time together. But Ronaldo admitted that he wanted to go out on a dinner with Messi but the duo haven’t done that so far.
Three years ago today, Cristiano Ronaldo asked Leo Messi to dinner.
Still waiting for it to happen 🐐🐐
(via @ChampionsLeague)pic.twitter.com/vyxBalCg48
— B/R Football (@brfootball) August 29, 2022
Ronaldo said: “I don’t know if its ever happened in football, the same two guys, in the same stage, all the time. So … it’s not easy. Of course, we have good relationship. We not have dinner together yet, but I hope in the future.”
They are two of the most decorated players in the history of the game. The duo leads the charts in goal-scoring records for their previous clubs, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid.
It’s a shame that no club could ever have the ambition to sign both of them and treat the soccer fans to a spectacle. There were rumors of Ronaldo joining Messi at PSG in 2021 but the Portuguese chose to return to Manchester United.
Cristiano Ronaldo doesn’t consider Lionel Messi a friend
Ronaldo was recently in news for his tell-all interview with Piers Morgan. He slammed the Man United manager and board during this interview. The Portuguese also talked about his relationship with Messi while sitting on the couch with Piers Morgan.
Cristiano Ronaldo on Lionel Messi
🗣 “We have a good friendship, not a one where we talk in the phone every night, but like we are teammates. I’ve never had dinner with him. But I would, why not. Best player I’ve seen, of course there’s Zidane too”
[Piers Morgan Interview] pic.twitter.com/W4PKHrDNYa
— António Mango (@AntonioMango4) November 17, 2022
Ronaldo admitted for the first time that he didn’t think Messi was his friend as the duo never got to spend some time off the field. He also stated that he had immense respect for the Argentine along with whom he dominated the sport for a decade.
He said: “I’m not friend of him in terms of, what I mean friend is the guy who was with you in your house, speaking on the phone, no, but it’s like a teammate. He’s a guy that I really respect the way he always speak about me.”
Ronaldo moved to Al-Nassr after Man United terminated his contract following the interview. The Portuguese has taken the Saudi Pro League by storm as rumors of Messi joining him in the Arab country have surfaced.
Messi is currently in a contract saga with PSG as he looks to find a different club. Al-Hilal has reportedly offered Messi a humongous contract surpassing Ronaldo’s at Al-Nassr.
If Messi chooses to join Al-Hilal in the SPL, the soccer fans could be in for another chapter in the rivalry. The two are heading toward the end of their careers and would like to face each other again.
While this could mean the rivalry is revived once again, it could also result in a friendship between the two. They could spend some time together off the field if Messi signs for a club in Saudi.
It remains to be seen where their careers will head in the next few years. But one thing is for sure even though Messi and Ronaldo aren’t the best of friends, they share a mutual respect toward each other which is a sign of true sportsmanship.
