Cristiano Ronaldo makes rare admission on Lionel Messi relationship as Real Madrid icon assesses whether anyone will ever match what he & his Barcelona rival achieved at their peak

Cristiano Ronaldo has made a rare admission on his relationship with Lionel Messi, insisting that he has never had any issue with the Argentine.

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• Battle for global supremacy
• 13 Ballons d'or between them
• Rivalry has always been friendly

• Table of Contents

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Two all-time greats have been locked in a battle for global domination across two decades. Ronaldo has claimed five Ballons d’Or, while eternal rival Messi has eight Golden Balls to his name. Between them they boast countless records.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Both have won league titles in Spain and across Europe – in England, Italy and France – while international honours, including the European Championship and World Cup, have been secured with Portugal and Argentina. The long-running GOAT debate continues to rage.

• WHAT CRISTIANO RONALDO SAID

  Ronaldo has his supporters, and will always back himself, but has never clashed with Messi when it comes to their on-pitch skirmishes. CR7 has told when asked about a legendary scrap for supremacy: “I never had [a bad relationship with Messi]. On the contrary.”

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Quizzed on whether professional football will ever see another duo post the numbers that Ronaldo and Messi have managed, the Portuguese icon said: “I hope so, it would be very good for football… but I think it's unlikely.”