Cristiano Ronaldo Vocal on ‘Respect’ for Lionel Messi, Jokes About Potential Team-Up Amid Inter-Miami Links

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are perhaps two of the best soccer players of their generation. Their rivalry is also regarded as one of the greatest in sport. However, as they are facing the twilight of their careers, the Manchester United player is showering his archrival from Paris Saint-Germaine with praise.

This comes as the legendary Portuguese striker slammed his own club, Manchester United, as well as team manager Erik ten Hag and former teammates, including Gary Neville and Wayne Rooney. He also criticized the younger players in the club.

Cristiano Ronaldo Sings Praises for Lionel Messi

According to the Daily Mail, Ronaldo stated that his Argentinian rival is "magic." He described his rival as an "amazing player" and stated that there is a "deep level of respect" between the two of them.

The Mirror reported that the two soccer legends faced off on numerous occasions, including their stints during the Spanish Premier League. However, Messi has the edge, as he is the only player in history with more Ballon d'Or triumphs than Ronaldo. Messi has seven of these wins, but Ronaldo is close behind at five.

Piers Morgan asked the Portuguese superstar about Messi and he stated that, "As a person, we share the stage 16 years, imagine, 16 years. We share. So, I have a great relationship with him." He did admit that personally, they are not friends in terms of closeness, but he does regard him more as a teammate.

Ronaldo also told him that like Messi, his girlfriend is also Argentinian and he claimed that she always treats Messi with respect. He then added, "What I am going to say about Messi? A great guy who does great things for football."

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi Together in One Team?

According to GOAL, the two soccer legends have spent "over a decade continually shattering expectations and defying the conventions of football to carve out one of the most spectacular sporting rivalries imaginable."

During his interview with Piers Morgan, Ronaldo quipped about what would happen if he were to team up with his arch-rival on the same team. He joked that if that would happen, the two of them would "sell a lot of shirts."

This does seem possible This seems possible, as Cristiano Ronaldo is already on his way out of Manchester United following his explosive comments regarding management, his teammates, and the organization. As for Messi, he is due to be a free agent in the summer of next year. He joined Paris Saint-Germain last summer, but his contract with the club is short.

There are talks that the dream team-up could happen over in the United States, as both legends have been linked with a move to the David Beckham-owned Inter Miami. These are still rumors, however, as Ronaldo's future with Manchester United remains uncertain, and it is still not know which team his rival, Messi, would land after his contract expires.

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Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Full Cristiano Ronaldo Interview With Piers Morgan Part 1