Despite the exalted battles between the pair over the years, CR7 has nothing but respect for Messi, who he says is like a ‘teammate’ to him.
Cristiano Ronaldo has described Lionel Messi as a ‘magic’ player and someone he has a ‘great relationship’ with.
Between them, the Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain forwards share a combined 12 Ballon d’Or titles after dominating elite football for over a decade. They may no longer compete in La Liga together, but their respect for one another remains as strong as ever.
"The best player you've ever seen? Excluding yourself?"
Piers Morgan asks Cristiano Ronaldo his true feelings about Lionel Messi as a player and a person.
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— Piers Morgan Uncensored (@PiersUncensored) November 17, 2022
“Amazing player, he is magic, top,” Ronaldo told Piers Morgan on TalkTV on what he thinks of Messi.
“As a person, we share the stage 16 years. Imagine, 16 years we share. So, I have [a] great relationship with him. I’m not a friend of his 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 speaks about me. Even his wife [Antonela Roccuzzo] and my girlfriend [Georgina Rodriguez], they always respect [each other] and they’re from Argentina.
“My girlfriend is from Argentina. So good. What I am going to say about Messi? A great guy who does great things for football.”
Asked if Messi is the best player he has ever seen apart from himself, Ronaldo replied: “Probably the best player I’ve ever seen. Maybe [Zinedine] Zidane. That I play and fight with, yes.”