Cristiano Ronaldo shuts down rivalry rumour with Messi

New Juventus signing, Cristiano Ronaldo has spoken about his on-field relationship with Barcelona legend Lionel Messi, admitting he has never considered the Argentine a rival. 

The Ronaldo versus Messi debate has influenced football discourse across the globe for over a decade now, dominating discussion among football fans, and sparking arguments over who the greatest player on the planet is.

Between them, they have clinched 10 Ballon d’Or awards since 2008, with no other player coming close to winning the prestigious accolade since then.

And after nine years at Real Madrid, Ronaldo has finally called time on his illustrious career in the Spanish capital, bringing an end to one of the greatest football rivalries in history…or so we thought.

Ronaldo has since revealed to Portuguese publication Ojogo that he never had a rivalry with Messi or any other player for that matter:

I have no rivalries against players, I have never had it, it’s not part of my ethics.