Cristiano Ronaldo insisted that his fans should not have to “hate Lionel Messi,” to appreciate his own contribution to football, stating that both of them have made significant strides to change the history of the game. Despite admitting that he and Argentine superstar Messi are not friends, Ronaldo expressed admiration and respect for his long-time on-field rival.

“I don’t see things like that, the rivalry is gone,” Ronaldo said. “It was good, spectators liked it. Those who like Cristiano Ronaldo don’t have to hate Messi and vice versa. We’ve done well, we have changed the history of football. We are respected all over the world, that’s the most important thing.”

Messi and Ronaldo spent over a decade in Spain, engaging in one of the most intense and memorable rivalries in sporting history. Playing for Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively, the two superstars continually challenged each other, pushing the boundaries of their skills and rewriting the records of the sport time and again.

However, in recent years, both Ronaldo and Messi have chosen to leave Europe and pursue new challenges in the twilight of their illustrious careers. Ronaldo now plays for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, while Messi, having moved to the United States, plays for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS).

“He’s followed his path and I have followed mine, regardless of playing outside of Europe. From what I’ve seen, he’s been doing well and so have I. The legacy lives on, but I don’t see the rivalry like that. We shared the stage many times, it was 15 years. I’m not saying we’re friends, I’ve never had dinner with him, but we’re professional colleagues and we respect each other,” Ronaldo said.

Over the years, both players have amassed incredible records and have been instrumental in their teams’ successes, reinforcing their statuses as arguably two of the finest players to have ever graced the sport.

In the coming fixtures, Ronaldo is set to play against Slovakia on Friday in the Euro 2024 qualifier. Messi, on the other hand, will captain the Argentine team against Ecuador in the 2026 World Cup qualifier, to be held at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires this Thursday.