Although Cristiano Ronaldo has declared that the rivalry between him and Lionel Messi is over, he has revealed the reason he cannot say they are friends.
The way juju superstar, Ebenezer Obey decades ago ruled out fighting between him and equally giant King Sunny Ade, saying there was no cause for such after God had abundantly blessed them, Ronalso also said he and Messi had become too accomplished to remain enemies.
He said at a press conference on Wednesday before training with the national side at Oeiras, on the outskirts of Lisbon, ahead of upcoming European Championship qualifiers, the Al Nassr forward said the “rivalry is over”.
Yet he conceded he could not call Messi a friend yet.
Why? Because they had never dined together.
Both Messi and Ronaldo stayed at the top of the football chain for 15 years, dating back to when Ronaldo won his first Ballon d’Or in 2008 and Messi his first in 2009.
Besides the Portuguese and Argentine, there have been only two others to lift the most coveted individual trophy in football since then – Luka Modric in 2018 and Karim Benzema in 2022.
“Whoever likes Cristiano Ronaldo doesn’t have to hate Messi and vice versa, because they are both very good. We’ve done well; we have changed the history of football, and we’ll keep on doing it. We are respected all over the world; that’s the most important thing.
“He makes his way; I make mine, even if we’re playing outside Europe. From what I’ve seen, he has done well, and so have I. It’s about continuing; the legacy continues.
