Comparisons to Lionel Messi

Sports journalists and experts regularly argue the individual merits of both players in an attempt to argue who they believe is the best player in modern football. It has been compared to legendary such as the  rivalry in boxing which culminated with the  in tennis, and the  rivalry from the formula.

Some commentators choose to the differing builds of the two, while part of the debate revolves around the contrasting personalities of the two players: Ronaldo is sometimes depicted as an arrogant and theatrical showoff, while Messi is portrayed as a shy, humble character.

In a 2012 interview, Ronaldo observed on the rivalry, saying I think we push each other sometimes in the competition, this is why the competition is so high while Ronaldo's manager during his time at, opined that I don't think the rivalry against each other bothers them. I think they have their own personal pride in terms of wanting to be the best. Messi himself deprived of any rivalry, saying that it was only the media who wants us to be at loggerheads but I've never fought with Cristiano. Responding to the claims that he and Messi do not get on well on a personal level, Ronaldo commented; We don't have a relationship outside the world of football, just as we don't with a lot of other players before adding that in years to come he hopes they can laugh about it together, stating; We have to look on this rivalry with a positive spirit, because it's a good thing. Representing arch rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid, the two players face each other at least twice every season in the world's biggest club game, elclasico which had a global audience of 400 million viewers in March 2014