Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo forged one of the greatest rivalries in soccer history—if not the greatest. For over a decade, the two legends battled at the highest level, pushing each other to new heights and dominating the Ballon d’Or like no others. Now, as they near the twilight of their storied careers, Messi has reflected on their shared journey with admiration and respect.
Now playing for Inter Miami and Al Nassr, respectively, Messi and Ronaldo are no longer at the center of European football. Still, the competitive fire and mutual respect remain. In an interview with L’Équipe‘s Ballon d’Or account, Messi reflected on the iconic era the two players dominated.
“It was always a ‘battle,’ in quotes. On the sporting side, it was really beautiful. We pushed each other because we’re both extremely competitive. He always wanted to win at everything, in every way,” Messi stated about Ronaldo. The Argentine acknowledged that their rivalry helped bring out the best in each other, adding:
“It was a great time for us and for people who love football in general. I think what we achieved over such a long period deserves a lot of credit,” he added. “As the saying goes, it’s easy to get there, but the hard part is staying. We stayed at the top for 10, 15 years. It was incredible and a great memory for everyone who enjoys football,” Messi ended.
Messi and Ronaldo: Ballon d’Or dominance defined an era
The Messi-Ronaldo rivalry wasn’t just about goals and trophies—it was also reflected in the Ballon d’Or, the prestigious award given annually to the best player in the world.
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Messi leads the all-time list with 8 Ballon d’Or wins, while Ronaldo follows with 5. Between 2008 and 2023, the two superstars won the award a combined 13 times, with only Luka Modric (2018) and Karim Benzema (2022) breaking their stranglehold on the honor.
While Messi currently holds the edge in major accolades, he prefers to focus on the legacy they built together: a golden era when the sport was defined by two players who refused to stop raising the bar.
