Lionel Messi opens up on rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo
The IndependentSign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Lional Messi found his personal battle with Cristiano Ronaldo “special” and “fun” during their rivalry in Spain. Throughout the 2010s, the pair battled it out for both club and personal honours as Barcelona and Real Madrid competed with each other for the La Liga and Champions League titles. Messi said: “It was a special duel and it will remain forever because it lasted many years and it is not easy to maintain certain levels for a long time. Plus the teams we played in were also very demanding, both Real Madrid and Barcelona were the two best teams in the world.” Between joining Real Madrid from Manchester United for a then-world-record £80m fee in 2009, and leaving in 2018 for Juventus, Ronaldo picked up two La Liga titles and four Champions League trophies at the Santiago Bernabeu.