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Highlights Of First Meeting Between Cristiano Ronaldo And Lionel Messi

Highlights Of First Meeting Between Cristiano Ronaldo And Lionel Messi

The two superstars have met many times since but in 2008 they faced each other in the Champions League semi final.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have come up against each other on many occasions and it all started back in 2008 when Ronaldo's Manchester United faced Messi's Barcelona in the Champions League.

There is no doubt who has dominated the football landscape for just over 10 years. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have been easily the biggest names, and best players, in the sport for over a decade.

The pair of them won 10 Ballon d'Ors between themselves in 10 years, with the run only stopped last year by Luka Modric's excellent year for Real Madrid and Croatia.

They may have been stood on opposite ends of the pitch to each other but they have been part of many an epic battle between Real Madrid and Barcelona and often the difference between the two sides has been who performs better on any one night.

However despite both men being synonymous with Classicos of the past, especially when Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola managed each side, it was actually a game between Barca and Manchester United where they first met.

In 2008 the two sides were drawn against each other in the Champions League semi final and the first leg at the Camp Nou was the two players first match against each other:

The United winger had a bigger impact on the game but it wasn't a positive one. The Red Devils were given an early penalty for a hand ball but the Portuguese forward blazed it over.

The Premier League side should have had another penalty in the first half when their marauding winger was brought down in the box but it wasn't given.

Ronaldo should have won a second penalty. Image: PA Images
Ronaldo should have won a second penalty. Image: PA Images

The match finished 0-0 and the tie was decided by Paul Scholes goal in the second leg at Old Trafford, famously scoring a brilliant screamer.

United would go to the final in Moscow where they faced Chelsea, in a game that was settled by penalties where once again Ronaldo missed from the spot in the shoot-out, having scored earlier in the game.

The two men, and two sides, would meet a year later in the Champions League final with Messi getting the better of things as he scored the second goal, a brilliant header, to win the game 2-0 for Barca.

Which is your favourite meeting between the two men?

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Topics: Football News, Manchester United, Barcelona, Lionel Messi, Juventus, Champions League, Cristiano Ronaldo