I am not friends with Lionel Messi – Christiano Ronaldo

One-time world footballer of the year award winner, Cristiano Ronaldo has said that he has a strictly professional relationship with Lionel Messi and is not friends with the Argentina international.

Both Ronaldo and Messi have been subjects of fierce debates in recent times. The pair have been painted as fierce rivals in recent years, with both players competing for club and individual honours. Even though he admits they are not close, Ronaldo is adamant there are no issues between the two of them and expressed his respect for the Barcelona man.

In an interview which he granted to beIN sport, Christiano Ronaldo says of Messi: “He (Lionel Messi) is a great player… I have a professional relationship (with him) like I have with other players. I’m not friends with him, because we don’t share the same dressing room. I respect him like a professional. We’re not real friends, just friends through our profession… There are no issues between the two of us. It’s (issues being created) not just now, it’s been the same for the last five years. I can’t control it.”

As the race for this year’s Ballon d’Or heats up, the arguments about who is the best will continue between the fans of these two great players.