Though both are now beyond their prime years—with one competing in Saudi Arabia and the other in Major League Soccer—the rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo during their LaLiga days with Barcelona and Real Madrid was extraordinary and likely irreplaceable.

Football fans watched two players, often regarded as the greatest in history, fiercely compete for major European titles and individual awards like the Ballon d'Or.

In a recent interview with @ballondor, Messi—now at Inter Miami and gearing up for the revamped FIFA Club World Cup—shared his thoughts on facing Cristiano Ronaldo. He highlighted the challenge of sustaining top-level excellence, saying, "It's easy to reach the top; the hard part is staying there."

'He always wanted to win everything, just like I did'

At 40, Ronaldo's future is unclear as his contract with Al Nassr ends in June, with no updates on renewal or a potential move. Meanwhile, the 37-year-old Messi is contracted to Inter Miami until 2025, and it's expected he'll extend, especially with reunions alongside former teammates like Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and Luis Suárez, and now Javier Mascherano on the coaching staff.

"It was always a intense yet beautiful competition on the field. We motivated each other through our fierce competitiveness. He was driven to win it all, just as I was. It was a unique era for us and for fans worldwide. Our sustained success over 10 to 15 years is truly remarkable—proving that reaching the summit is one thing, but remaining there is the true test—and it created unforgettable memories for football lovers."

During his time at Barcelona, Messi tallied 672 goals and 303 assists in 778 appearances. Ronaldo, at Real Madrid, amassed 450 goals and 131 assists in 438 games, cementing his status as the club's all-time top scorer. Messi holds the edge in Ballon d'Or wins with eight, compared to Ronaldo's five.