Lionel Messi’s tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo
This first edition of the large-scale Club World Cup is taking place without Cristiano Ronaldo. Lionel Messi, on the other hand, will be there. The Argentinian opened his account on Thursday in Inter Miami’s 2-1 victory over FC Porto, scoring his team’s second goal with a sublime free-kick. CR7’s eternal rival, even on the other side of the Atlantic, La Pulga had the opportunity to express his views on the Real Madrid legend after the victory over the Dragons.
Asked about his relationship with the Lusitanian, Leo Messi was sober, explaining that their rivalry never crossed the boundaries of the green rectangle: “the competition between us took place on the pitch, and each of us strove to give his best for his team, at every moment and wherever he was. But of course, all that remains, as always, on the pitch. Afterwards, we go back to being two normal people. We’re not friends, of course, because we don’t spend time together. But what we share is always done within a framework of great respect. I have immense admiration for what he has achieved in his career, and for what he continues to do, as he is still playing at the highest level. There’s nothing strange about that: it’s normal, and it’s the way things should always be.”