"He wasn't that type of guy" - When Barcelona teammate commented on Lionel Messi's thoughts on Cristiano Ronaldo rivalry
Former Barcelona defender Gerard Pique shared that Lionel Messi did not dwell on his rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo. The pair dominated football for over a decade and are believed by many to be the two best players in the sport's history.
Pique, who played alongside both players, claimed that the Argentine great did not focus on his rivalry with the Portuguese superstar. He said in a BT interview via Times Now earlier this year:
''He wasn't that type of guy. He was very team-focused, although he was getting all the first page in all the newspapers and radios and TV. At the end of the day, he was very close with all of us and he was just focused on winning titles like the Champions League and these kinds of things. At the end of the day because he was the best. Then he was winning the Ballon d'Or but it wasn't something that was a priority for him."
"I think that they are both amazing. We are talking about two of the best players, not just in the world but the history of this sport. I always said that Messi has some talent that no one has. I mean, he has the ball and his speed controlling the ball. The ball doesn't go two metres far from his foot, it's always there. It's impossible to catch him, this talent I didn't see from anyone," Pique added.
The Spaniard, who played alongside Ronaldo at Manchester United, concluded:
"Cristiano Ronaldo is such a different player, they are very different. He is tall, strong, he's really complete. He can do anything. He can do goals with the head, free-kicks, penalties, take one on one. For me, it's like Messi is not human, but Cristiano is the best of the humans."
Gerard Pique played 506 games alongside Lionel Messi at Barcelona. Meanwhile, he played 15 times with Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United.
What Barcelona legend Lionel Messi said about his rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo?
In 2023, Barcelona legend Lionel Messi opened up about his rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo. The legendary pair have won the most Ballon d'Or prizes in history with eight and five, respectively.
Ronaldo is the most lethal goalscorer in the sport's history, with over 910 professional goals, while Messi has won every team prize. The 2022 World Cup winner discussed the rivalry with L'Equipe, saying:
"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."
Lionel Messi concluded his discussion about his rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo, saying:
"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. And we stayed at the top for ten, fifteen years. It's very difficult to stay at that level and it's spectacular. And I think it remains a good memory for all those who followed us."
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are in the twilight of their legendary careers. While the Argentine ace plays for Inter Miami in the MLS, the Portuguese superstar represents Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.