Rivalry a thing of the past? Messi on his duel with Ronaldo

Lionel Messi recently spoke on Argentine television about his long-standing rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo, describing their relationship as 'always good and respectful' and emphasizing that their competition was purely sporting rather than personal. The two players are widely regarded as having defined an era of football, consistently pushing each other to new heights throughout their careers. The interview, published on May 8, 2026, offers rare insight into how Messi himself perceived the famous duel between the two footballing legends.