Loving Cristiano doesn’t have to mean hating Messi, says Ronaldo. The rivalry is over, together we changed history

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Two of the best footballers in history, who conquered the sport so much that they terrorised the defences of all opponents for years. But time cannot be stopped and their rivalry is slowly coming to an end.

The first to appear on the world stage was a Portuguese who began to shine at Manchester United. He also won the Ballon d’Or for 2008, but in the meantime, the Argentine chic has also appeared on the scene.

They competed from afar to see who would score more goals, collect more assists and have more trophies. Until, in 2009, Ronaldo decided to face Messi and left for Real Madrid so they could compare themselves directly in La Liga.

And it was breathtaking to watch. When one did something phenomenal, the other went and made it even better. From a distance, they tussled for goals, golden boots, trophies or Golden Balls.

But at the moment they are just finishing their careers, Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia, Messi in the USA. At the Portugal national team reunion, the 38-year-old spoke about the rivalry with his rival.

“I don’t see it that way anymore, the rivalry between us is over. It was great, the fans loved it,” Ronaldo told a news conference.

“Those who like Cristiano don’t have to hate Messi and vice versa. We did well, we changed the history of football. We are respected all over the world, that’s the most important thing,” the Portuguese added.

The rivalry between the two footballers may be gone, but they are remotely vying for the last few records. Ronaldo, for example, became the first player in football history to score 850 goals at the weekend. Messi, on the other hand, lifted trophy number 44 over his head by winning the League Cup, making him the player with the most trophies in history.

Source: Portugal national football team, ESPN