Lionel Messi is the Ying without his Yang. The once great rivalry between the Barcelona forward and Cristiano Ronaldo has been diluted following the latter's move to Juventus and now Messi has spoken about it for the first time.
Every superhero needs his supervillain because mere mortals wouldn't actually be any real challenge to them. No matter which side of the argument you are on that's pretty much the relationship Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo share.
For the past decade the pair have ruled the football world between them, with no one able to come close to just how good they are, winning all 10 Ballon d'Ors in that time, with five each.
The whole rivalry was intensified by the fact that the pair both played for Barcelona and Real Madrid for most of the period with both sides dominating in Spain and Europe during the time.
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In the summer though Ronaldo changed the complexion of their, and the Clasico, rivalry by moving to Italy and Juventus in a deal worth around £89 million.
For the first time since seeing the Portugal star leave Messi has spoken about the transfer, telling Catalunya Radio:
"Real Madrid are one of the best teams in the world and they have a great squad [but] it's evident that the absence of Ronaldo makes them less good and makes Juventus [one of the] clear favourites to win the Champions League.
"It surprised me. I didn't imagine him leaving Madrid or joining Juventus. There were a lot of teams that wanted him. It surprised me, but he has gone to a very good team."
Ronaldo, and Real, tasted success in the Champions League three times in a row before both the forward and manager Zinedine Zidane left but they will still be one of the favourites again.
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In those three years Barca have had a poor run in the competition, being knocked out at the quarter final stages for three seasons in a row.
Messi has been left off the three man shortlist for the FIFA The Best Awards but has started this season with four goals in three games.
Ronaldo is on the shortlist but his start to life in Italy has seen him fail to find the back of the net in his opening three games for the Old Lady.
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The hero and the villain are now seperated but will they continue to inspire each other?
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Football News, Barcelona, Lionel Messi, Juventus, Champions League, Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid, La Liga