The fierce and long-standing rivalry between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, regarded by many as the two greatest footballers of all time, seems to have finally ended. This rivalry, which fascinated the soccer world for over a decade, reached its peak during their time in Spain, Ronaldo at Real Madrid and Messi at Barcelona. Their on-field conflicts were intense and often confined to the outcomes of championships and individual awards.
Their story is full of incredible achievements, numerous awards, and cracked records. Between 2008 and 2021, they jointly won 12 out of 13 Best Player in the World awards, with Ronaldo claiming five and Messi seven. They earned a lot of domestic and international titles, broke scoring records, and earned the admiration of fans worldwide.
However, their current move to new clubs outside of Europe marks the end of this era. Ronaldo has moved to Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, while Messi has started a new journey with Inter Miami in the United States. These transfers illustrate a new chapter in their careers, far from the European arenas where they accomplished most of their successes.
Ronaldo’s current statement about the climax of their rivalry is significant. He emphasizes that fans no longer need to take sides or have hatred towards Messi just because they are his fans. The message is clear that both of them are outstanding players who have made tremendous contributions to the sport and deserve respect.
“I don’t see things like that, the rivalry is over. It was a good, healthy rivalry that spectators liked a lot. 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 keep doing it. We are respected all over the world, that’s the most important thing. He has done well, from what I’ve seen and so have I. It’s about continuing, the legacy continues, The rivalry I don’t see things like that. I’ve already said, “We have shared the stage for 15 years and we ended up being, I wouldn’t say friends, because I never dined with him, but we are professional colleagues, and we respect each other.” The former Manchester United and Real Madrid footballer told Record, a Portuguese newspaper.
Cristiano Ronaldo has recently attained a marvelous milestone, becoming the only footballer in the world to score 850 goals. He achieved this tremendous feat during Al Nassr’s dominant 5-1 victory over Al Hazem last Saturday. Ronaldo found the back of the net in the 68th minute of the Saudi Pro League match, setting a new record. Even at the age of 38, Ronaldo is still fit, shows no signs of slowing down, and is on the way to achieving success in the Al Nassr jersey.
“It’s a historic achievement. I take great pride in the numbers I’ve achieved, which I never thought I could reach. But I’m starving for more. When I’m on the pitch, I always aim high and think big,” Ronaldo stated.
On the other hand, Lionel Messi is currently representing Major League Soccer (MLS) side Inter Miami. Messi’s performance for Inter Miami has been stunning. Since his debut for the Herons earlier this year in July, Inter Miami has remained victorious. Last month, Messi played a key role in securing Inter Miami’s first trophy by winning the Leagues Cup title.
As the rivalry between Ronaldo and Messi comes to an end, soccer continues to evolve, as do these two iconic players. They will now be found on separate paths, but they both leave a unique legacy at the back. As soccer lovers, we are grateful to have seen their remarkable journeys and eagerly expect what the future holds for these two giants of the sport. While the rivalry may have ended, our respect for their extraordinary talent will last for generations to come.
