"If you like me, you don't have to hate Messi....": Cristiano Ronaldo

Digital Desk: Cristiano Ronaldo, a star striker for Al Nassr, has claimed that one need not hate Lionel Messi to be his fan, but he is not friends with the legendary World Cup-winning striker and they share a respect for each other. 

The Portuguese spoke about his connection with Messi, with whom he had a strong personal rivalry over the past ten years, a significant chapter in the history of European football. Both of them left club football in Europe towards the end of this decade.

Ronaldo admitted that both of them changed the history of football and urged his fans to not hate Messi.

"If you like Cristiano Ronaldo, you don't have to hate Messi. The two changed the history of football and are respected by everyone. Rivalry? I do not see those things like that as we shared the stage for 15 years. I am not saying we are friends but we respect each other," Ronaldo told reporters, according to Goal.com.

The pair played together for more than ten years in Spain, with Messi representing Barcelona and Ronaldo representing Real Madrid.  The duo won numerous titles for their teams single-handedly with their goal-scoring abilities, including the La Liga title, the UEFA Champions League, the Copa Del Ray, and the FIFA Club World Cup. Ronaldo has yet to win the FIFA World Cup trophy, which Messi and Argentina won last year, giving Messi his final football accomplishment. 

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After dominating European football for years, both stars left Europe in their late 30s, with Messi getting a contract with Major League Soccer (MLS) club Inter Miami and Ronaldo joining Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia. Both players have won trophies with their new teams: Ronaldo won the Arab Club Champions Cup this year, and Messi helped his team win the Leagues Cup 2023, their first-ever championship. 

On Friday, Ronaldo will play in the Euro 2024 Qualifiers against Slovakia, while on Thursday, Messi will captain his team in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Ecuador in Buenos Aires.