When Lionel Messi Admitted Ronaldo Rivalry Was Tough: "He Made Me Suffer"

• Lionel Messi once gave a candid opinion about his intense rivalry with his greatest football adversary, Cristiano Ronaldo
• The pair dominated football for over a decade, with football enthusiasts often divided on who the GOAT is between the pair
• As their careers wind down, fans continue to relish every remaining moment of their legendary performances on the pitch

Lionel Messi once offered a rare glimpse into his storied rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo during their time in La Liga, a period that defined an era of football greatness.

Widely regarded as two of the most exceptional players in history, Messi and Ronaldo's battle for supremacy spanned over a decade, with their individual brilliance often fueling the legendary El Clasico clashes between Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Throughout their prime years, the Argentine magician and the Portuguese powerhouse were locked in a weekly contest, each striving to outshine the other in goals, decisive moments, and silverware.

Read also

Ronaldo or Messi: Kevin De Bruyne picks the player he would prefer to play with

From 2008 to 2018, their dominance was so profound that they monopolised the Ballon d'Or, with only Luka Modric interrupting their reign in 2018, per talkSPORT.

Reactions to the video:

Here are some of the responses to the Messi vs Ronaldo video.

@seskypapaya:

"Both are great, as someone once said, if an engineer was asked to make the perfect football player, it would be Ronaldo and if an artist was asked to do so, he would create Messi."

@shadowmedved9229:

"Mojo playing a dangerous game."

@jeffreymelendez5685:

"There’s no way it’s a tie in the skillset, Messi is way superior."

@internetathi:

"Huge respect for Ronaldo, but Messi cemented his life's work with this world cup both as a talented teamplayer and as a leader."

@adamproductions4529:

"Ronaldo’s work ethic is second to none, but Messi is just too powerful for mortals."

Read also

Video of Vinicius Jr and Mbappe celebrating at training excites fans

@sarthakkharade7112:

"I'm team Messi but still got huge respect for Ronaldo's hard work."

@HelloThere-ws4li:

"Messi ended this debate."

@jey524:

"The debate is over now."

As both players approach the twilight of their illustrious careers, the debate over who the superior footballer is continues to captivate fans worldwide.

Yet, even as they near the end of their journeys on the pitch, Messi and Ronaldo have always expressed mutual respect whenever asked about their rivalry.

Messi reflects on rivalry with Ronaldo

In one candid reflection, Messi shared his thoughts on their intense competition, acknowledging their unique dynamic.

"There are many great players now—Neymar, Kylian Mbappé, Luis Suarez, Eden Hazard—any of them could be the best in the world," Messi remarked, as quoted by Sportskeeda.

"But I didn’t include Cristiano Ronaldo in that list because I see him on the same level as me. It was thrilling to play against him, even though it often made me suffer. It was frustrating to watch Real Madrid lift trophies."

Read also

Cristiano Ronaldo pens touching tribute as Pepe retires from football

Messi further admitted that he missed Ronaldo's presence in La Liga after the latter's departure to Juventus but expressed admiration for the Italian giants.

"I do wish he was still in Spain, but I have a lot of respect for Juventus. They are a very strong team with excellent players, and they’ve become even stronger with Cristiano."

Jose Mourinho picks between Ronaldo and Messi

For years, the Lionel Messi vs. Cristiano Ronaldo debate has been hot in barbershops, bars, and on social media.

These football legends have racked up hundreds of goals, shattered numerous records, and earned countless trophies. Recently, former Real Madrid and Manchester United manager José Mourinho seemed to end the endless discussion.

Source: YEN.com.gh