‘Messi rivalry just starting’

Real Madrid and Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo believes that his rivalry with Lionel Messi is just beginning.

The Real Madrid man pulled level with Argentine genius Lionel Messi as they have now won five FIFA awards each but the Portuguese forward believes there is more to come.

International head coaches, captains and members of the media voted for Cristiano in first place as Messi came in second. Ronaldo has won the award four times in the last five years with Messi winning it in 2014/15 after Barcelona won the treble. in 2010 FIFA’s individual award was merged with Ballon D’or, which is presented by France football. The decision to separate the two awards was taken in 2016.

Messi has been in fantastic form this season, scoring 11 goals in nine La Liga matches. He also almost single-handedly dragged Argentina to the 2018 Russia World Cup with a hattrick in the final qualifier against Ecuador.

Cristiano by that measure has struggled for Real Madrid this season, especially in La Liga. The Portuguese is however still going strong in the Champions League.

Ronaldo, apparently played down the rivalry in front of the media but did not fail to enforce that he is in equal footing with the Barcelona number 10.

"I don't compete with Leo," he said. "He is a player, who is in the same era. He won five times. I won five times too — individual awards for the best in the world. So things are as they are.

"Obviously, I am happy because, as I said before, I am at the best club in the world. I have had the opportunity to demonstrate that I am at a very high level during the last few years. And I am still [physically] very well.

"It didn't finish yet... it is just starting,” Ronaldo suggested when asked whether the rivalry is coming to an end.

Fair to say that this two players motivate each other to get better each and every day.