- The Portuguese striker likens his rivalry with the Argentinean to the competitiveness between Real Madrid and Barcelona.
- He reveals Messi was annoyed with Madrid winning three Champions League titles in a row.
- Cristiano continues: “I felt the same way when he won so many things with Barcelona”.
Lionel Messi’s La Liga rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo ended after the Portuguese striker left Madrid for Juventus in the summer of 2018. Ronaldo has won more Champions League titles (5) than the Argentinean (4), however, he admits he was a bit annoyed by Messi’s success with Barcelona.
“I’m sure he felt competitiveness that was the same as the rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona,” the 34-year-old told Televisao Independente. “He liked that antagonism; he even admitted that those three Champions Leagues we won annoyed him a bit. It’s quite normal.
“I felt the same way when he won so many things with Barcelona – things I would have liked to have won. So it was always a healthy rivalry – the kind that exists in football and I have a great professional relationship with him.”
It should be noted that Barcelona have now scooped eight out of the last 11 La Liga titles.
Both Messi and Ronaldo are nominated for the 2018-2019 Champions League Striker of the Season award. Last season, Messi became both La Liga and Champions League top scorer 36 and 12 goals respectively. As for Ronaldo, he only managed to score 28 goals following his sensational Juventus move.
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