Ronaldo plays down Messi feud: 'I never saw him as a rival'

The Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Lionel Messi debate has been an immovable backdrop of the pair's individual dominance for over a decade, but the former insists their rivalry has never gone beyond their respective pursuits for honors.

The duo was reunited on the pitch for Juventus' 3-0 win at Barcelona on Tuesday, a game in which Ronaldo notched two penalties for the visitors. However, their most notorious duels came on either side of the Clasico divide in Spain before Ronaldo left Real Madrid for Juventus in 2018.

"I have always had a cordial relationship with Messi," Ronaldo insisted to Movistar after the game, as quoted by ESPN's Sam Marsden. "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."

Now at age 35 and 33, respectively, Ronaldo and Messi are entering the swansongs of their careers while trying to improve the fortunes of two clubs who are underperforming on the domestic scene. Barcelona failed to win any trophies over the 2019-20 season and have provided little evidence they will correct that in the current campaign but Ronaldo is adamant that Messi himself isn't in decline.

"Messi is the same as ever (on the pitch)," Ronaldo added. "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."