Messi and Ronaldo: The greatest of rivals show the greatest of respect

Sportsmanship is making sure you have respect for the guy you’re paying against. And though neither Messi nor Ronaldo have openly admitted to their mutual respect during the years they played against each other in LaLiga, it became clear during the UEFA Champions League draw on Thursday how much they respect each other as rival sportsmen.

The pair were involved in countless battles representing the colours of Barcelona and Real Madrid, but also individually with five Ballon d’Or prizes between them.

That duel has somewhat cooled down since last year with Ronaldo leaving Madrid for Juventus, and Messi implied that he misses having the Portuguese in the same league as him.

“It was nice to have Cristiano in LaLiga, especially because he was at Real Madrid,” Messi said.

Ronaldo also spoke with respect towards the Argentine for the epic rivalry they have had for well over a decade.

“I was curious to find out that, after having such a rivalry for 15 years, we have a very good relationship.

“We have not had dinner together yet, but I hope in the future…” Ronaldo stated.

“I miss playing in Spain. Messi and I had a great battle. We have helped each other to be better. This rivalry is among the best in football history,” the Portuguese star concluded.

Good players inspire themselves, great players inspire others…