Cristiano Ronaldo says his rivalry with Argentine and Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi is over, adding that fans do not have to ‘hate one and like the other.’
Ronaldo and Messi are the only two players with over 800 goals each and have won a combined 79 trophies.
The Al Nassr and Portuguese forward stated that they have already ‘changed the history of football,’ adding that the rivalry with Messi over the years was a healthy one.
The 38-year-old said, “I don’t see things like that; the rivalry is over. It was a healthy rivalry, and the spectators liked it a lot.
“Whoever likes Cristiano Ronaldo doesn’t have to hate Messi and vice versa, because they are both very good. We’ve done well; we have changed the history of football, and we’ll keep on doing it. We are respected all over the world; that’s the most important thing.
“He makes his way; I make mine, even if we’re playing outside Europe. From what I’ve seen, he has done well, and so have I. It’s about continuing; the legacy continues.
“I’ve said there’s no rivalry. We’ve shared the stage for 15 years, and we ended up being—I wouldn’t say friends—because I never dined with him. We are professional colleagues, and we respect each other.”
Ronaldo who recently scored his 850th senior career goal for club and country said he never thought he would achieve the feat.
He said: “The 850 goals are a historic achievement. It was a surprise for me, I never thought I would reach them. But I want more, I want to be at the top, to think big. I want to thank those who helped me, all the clubs where I played and the national team.”
