Ronaldo says Messi is not his Rival after Barca thrashing

Ronaldo never saw Messi as his rival and always got on well with Argentine star player. The Portuguese forward scored twice in Juventus’ 3-0 win over Barcelona on Tuesday’s Uefa Champions league.

This was the first meeting between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in more than two years, since the Portuguese forward left Real Madrid for Juventus in 2018.

“I have always had a cordial relationship with Messi,” Ronaldo told Movistar after the game. “As I have said before, for 12, 13, 14 years [I have been] sharing prizes with him.

“I never saw him as a rival. He always tried the best for his team, and I tried the best for mine. I always got on well with him. I am sure he will say the same if you ask him.

“But we know in football, people always look for a rivalry to create more excitement.”
Messi, 33, and Ronaldo, who between them have won the Ballon d’Or in 11 of the past 12 years, came to define the Clasico rivalry between Barca and Real Madrid over the past decade.

Ronaldo said he hoped the win would provide an “injection of confidence” for a Juve team that are currently fourth in Serie A.

Barca’s defeat to Juve came on the back of Saturday’s loss to Cadiz in La Liga, but despite the Catalan side’s troubles, Ronaldo said he doesn’t think Messi — who had all seven of Barca’s shots on target on Tuesday — is in decline.

“Messi is the same as ever [on the pitch],” he said. “Barcelona are in a difficult moment, but they are still Barca. I am sure they will come out of it. All teams have bad runs, but Barcelona are a very good team.”

In between Ronaldo’s penalties, United States international Weston McKennie was also on target, with a fourth goal, scored by Leonardo Bonucci, ruled out for offside by the VAR late on.

Griezmann was upset with the performance of the team. “We didn’t turn up,” Griezmann said. “They turned us over in the first half. We were lacking in every department: attitude, desire to run, to defend … everything was bad.

“Who’s to blame if not those of us who are out there playing? We know how to run, how to work hard, and that’s what we must do to move forward.
“I don’t want to look for excuses. We have to leave that to one side and work hard, there’s nothing else for it. There’s a game on Sunday [against Levante], and we have to win it. The image [of the team] tonight was ugly.”