Lionel Messi made his feelings clear when asked if he'd like to play on the same team as rival Cristiano Ronaldo
Lionel Messi made his opinion clear when asked if he would be open to playing on the same team as Cristiano Ronaldo.
Having won three more Ballon d’Ors than any player in history Messi is widely regarded as the greatest football player of all time.
The Inter Miami star currently has claimed eight of the coveted awards, with long-term rival Ronaldo following closely behind with five, the most recent being in 2017.
The pair's infamous rivalry was at its fiercest when they each competed against each other in the La Liga, playing for Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively.
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However, at the time Messi said he could envisage a future where he and the Portugal icon were playing in the same team.
When asked in 2015 if he would be open to playing on the same side as Ronaldo, Messi said: "Yes, of course.
"I always like to play with the best, and he is one of them. I think it will be difficult for us to play in the same team, but obviously I would like to.
"I was lucky enough to play and participate with many very good players and, obviously, I would also like to do it with him."
The prospect of the pair playing for the same outfit seems unlikely at this point with Ronaldo, now 39, currently playing his football for Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr.
Meanwhile, Messi is at David Beckham’s MLS franchise Inter Miami, alongside his former Barcelona team-mates Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.
However, despite winning the Copa America with Argentina over the summer, the 37-year-old was not included in the 30-man long list of nominations for the 2024 Ballon d'Or.
In fact, for the first time, since 2003, neither Messi nor Ronaldo were nominated for the Ballon d'Or this year, suggesting that the pair’s collective dominance over football may have come to an end.
Instead, Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior is the favourite to win the award, ahead of Manchester City's Rodri and Englishman Jude Bellingham.
Manchester City talisman Kevin De Bruyne and Liverpool duo Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk are other notable omissions from this year's nominees.
Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Football, Lionel Messi, Ballon d'Or, Argentina
Ben McCrum