I don’t know if Cristiano and I can ever be friends: Messi

Lionel Messi equalled Cristiano Ronaldo’s haul of four Golden shoe awards after becoming the top score in European Leagues with 37 goals for the season 2016/17 and the Argentine feels that may never become good friends with Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo.

Messi sat down with Spanish newspaper Marca and spoke on a variety of issues. Cristiano and Messi has a great rivalry but for Messi that was not the reason why he could never be friends with the Portuguese striker.

For Messi, the criterion of becoming good friends are different and has nothing to do with the rivalry he shares with the Real Madrid star man. "I don't know if we will be. Friendship is built through spending time together and getting to know each other,” Messi replied when asked about whether he could be good friends with Ronaldo.

The two men have faced each other routinely in competitive matches and also during award ceremonies. Messi suggested that a more personal relationship is required for two people to become good friends.

“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 also reiterated that personal awards are not his priority after winning the Golden Boot and said: "It's a beautiful way of recognising what it represents, but I've always said my priority was never individual awards. I would prefer to win another Champions League or LaLiga, they are my priorities. But it's beautiful to have these at home because of the meaning they have."

Asked to comment on who beside Cristiano Ronaldo can win the Ballon’ d’or, Messi replied: There are many great players around today who can win the Ballon d'Or. In recent years there have just been two, but now players like Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Luis Suarez can compete for that award."

Asked about his family life and if he spends time with his children, Messi suggested that he likes leading a normal family life.

"My day to day life is very much based around the kids. In the morning I take them to school and when I come back from training I practically leave straight away to pick up Thiago. When he finishes school, we try to spend time together with Antonella and Mateo until dinner. We put them to bed and then not much else, spending time amongst ourselves to pass the time. Everything that a normal family does."