Overview

• Lionel Messi described his rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo as a 'great battle,' emphasizing how their competitiveness pushed them to excel over more than a decade.
• Messi and Ronaldo share a combined 13 Ballon d'Or awards, with Messi holding eight and Ronaldo five, dominating football's highest individual honor from 2008 to 2023.
• Messi acknowledged the difficulty of maintaining top form for 10-15 years, crediting both players for their longevity and consistency at the highest level of the sport.
• Messi is set to represent Inter Miami in the Club World Cup this June, while both players are focused on staying fit for potential participation in the 2026 World Cup.
• In 2023, Messi became the first MLS player to win the Ballon d'Or and equaled Ronaldo's record for most national team hat-tricks during World Cup qualifiers.