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Lionel Messi has provided a rare glimpse into his relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo but frankly admitted he is not friends with his superstar rival.
The legendary duo remain two of the sport's most decorated players in history and have scored almost 2,000 goals for club and country between them.
Collecting a myriad of individual titles, Messi has been crowned the winner of the coveted Ballon d'Or eight times, with Ronaldo his closest challenger with five.
It is no surprise, therefore, that they are both often named as the GOAT and supporters fervently compare their statistics even as they approach the end of their careers, with Ronaldo now 40 and Messi turning 38 next week.
Ronaldo is currently plying his trade in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Nassr while Messi is on the books at MLS outfit Inter Miami.
Their paths briefly looked set to cross at the Club World Cup this month, but Ronaldo snubbed opportunities to join clubs taking part in the new-look competition. Indeed, when the two greats have collided, it has always been for rival clubs or countries.
Lionel Messi (above) has opened up on his relationship with long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo
Messi frankly admitted he is not close friends with Ronaldo because their paths rarely cross
The two superstars remain some of the sport's most decorated football players in history
As a result, Messi has conceded he is unlikely to ever share a close friendship with CR7, if only because they rarely get the chance to speak.
Opening up on his connection with Ronaldo, Messi told DSports: 'I have a lot of respect and admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo and for the career he's had and continues to have, because he's still competing at the highest level.
'The competition with him was on the pitch. Each of us wanted to do the best for our team. Obviously, as always, everything stayed on the field.
'Off the pitch, we are two normal people. We're not friends obviously because we don't spend time together, but we've always treated each other with a lot of respect.'
These thoughts echo his previous comments on the distance between them.
Back in 2017, Messi told Marca: 'I don't know if we will be [friends]. Friendship is built through spending time together and getting to know each other.
'We have no relationship, mainly because we only see each other at awards ceremonies and that's the only time we speak.
'Everything is fine, but our lives don't cross over very often.'
Messi is pictured with wife Antonela Roccuzzo while Ronaldo poses with Georgina Rodríguez
In the Ballon d'Or stakes, Messi holds eight with Ronaldo his closest challenger on five
But Messi has scored 866 goals for club and country, less than Ronaldo's grand tally of 938
Meanwhile, in an interview with Spanish outlet El Chiringuito earlier this year, Ronaldo said he is on good terms with Messi because of their 'healthy' rivalry.
'I have a good relationship with Leo Messi,' said Ronaldo. 'I was translating him in English at an award ceremony too! It was funny.
'It was a healthy rivalry, we got along.'
Ronaldo leads Messi in the scoring stakes, having netted 938 goals for club and country over his glittering career, in comparison to his rival's tally of 866.
