Unexpected revelation! Ronaldo reveals who he really was to Messi

Cristiano Ronaldo fondly recalled the years he shared at the summit of world football with Lionel Messi.

Details: The iconic Portuguese forward spoke candidly about his relationship with his greatest career rival, Argentina's Lionel Messi. The striker stressed that there was never any hostility between them, and that at official events he even helped his fellow star overcome the language barrier.

“We shared the stage at award ceremonies for 15 years and always got along very well. I remember translating for him what people were saying in English. It was very funny. He always treated me with great respect. Of course, he defended his club and I defended mine. He fought for his national team and I fought for mine. But it was purely a healthy rivalry — we pushed and motivated each other,” Ronaldo admitted.

For a decade and a half, the rivalry between Ronaldo and Messi remained the defining duel in world sport, dividing millions of fans across the globe into two camps.

However, the two legends themselves regularly displayed their mutual respect in public. The Portuguese star has repeatedly said that their head-to-head battle in Spanish football during their time at Real Madrid and Barcelona forced both of them to constantly push beyond their own limits.

It is worth noting that Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have won 13 Ballon d'Or awards between them: the Argentine has claimed eight prestigious individual honors, while five have gone to the Portuguese star.

Reminder: Major public scandal! Carragher tears into Piers Morgan for defending Ronaldo