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Cristiano Ronaldo was often touted to hate Argentina because of his rivalry with Lionel Messi. However, the Portuguese star claimed that he had nothing but love for the South American country as his girlfriend was half Argentine.
Speaking on an Instagram live six years ago, Ronaldo addressed the misconception, saying:
"People think I don't like Argentina. But I love it. My girlfriend is from Argentina. Many people don't know this. She's from there, and from Spain."
Ronaldo moved to Saudi Arabia in 2022 after the FIFA World Cup and was quizzed about his rivalry with Messi. He admitted that they pushed each other to the limits, but that the rivalry was over. He said, via CNN:
"I don't see things that way, the rivalry is gone. It was good, the fans liked it. Those who like Cristiano Ronaldo don't have to hate Messi. They're both very good, they changed football history. We are respected throughout the world, it's the most important. He is following his path, I am following mine. He's done well, from what I've seen. We carry on, the legacy continues, the rivalry – I don't see it that way. I have said, we shared the stage for 15 years and we ended up, I wouldn't say friends, but we are colleagues and we respect each other."
Cristiano Ronaldo (5) and Lionel Messi (8) have won 13 Ballons d'Or between them and have dominated world football for close to two decades.
Lionel Messi comments on rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo
Lionel Messi also spoke about his rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo and admitted that it was a great battle. He added that they needed each other to reach their current level as they both wanted to win everything.
He said, via L'Equipe:
"It was a great battle, from a sporting point of view. We fed off each other's rivalry because we're both great competitors. He, too, always wanted to win everything, all the time. It was a very enjoyable time for both of us and for everyone who loves football. I think we deserve a lot of credit for having managed to stay at the top for so long. Because as they say, it's easy to get there. What's difficult is staying there."
Cristiano Ronaldo left Europe at the end of 2022 and joined Al-Nassr, where he is expected to sign a new deal. Lionel Messi left Europe in 2023 after his two-year stint at Paris Saint-Germain and moved to the MLS with Inter Miami.
