I’m Not Close To Ronaldo – Lionel Messi Admits

Inter Miami star and Argentina captain Lionel Messi has opened up about his relationship with longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo, clarifying that while they’re not close friends, there’s a deep mutual respect between them.

The two football icons have shared one of the sport’s most legendary and hotly debated rivalries, consistently pushing each other to new heights throughout their illustrious careers.

For over 15 years, Messi and Ronaldo have gone head-to-head, with their rivalry reaching its peak during the nine seasons they spent in Spain’s top flight Messi with Barcelona and Ronaldo with Real Madrid.

Throughout their careers, the pair have dominated the footballing world, setting records, winning countless trophies, and redefining excellence on the pitch. Yet, questions have always lingered about the nature of their personal relationship.

In an interview with DSsports, Messi addressed the topic, noting that the rivalry was purely professional and mostly centered around their time in El Clásico.

“I have a lot of respect and admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo for the career he’s had and continues to have, because he’s still competing at the highest level,” Messi said.

He explained that the competition between them was strictly on the field. “Each of us wanted to do the best for our team. But everything stayed on the pitch,” he added.

“Off the pitch, we’re just two regular people. We’re not friends, obviously, because we don’t spend time together, but we’ve always shown each other a lot of respect

‘We’re not friends but I have a lot of respect and admiration for him’

~ Messi speaks on relationship with Ronaldo pic.twitter.com/to9ZAmYCwW

— News Region (@irnewsregion) June 20, 2025

Source: 3news