Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi – the rivalry that created football

“There is no doubt that being in the same league changed everything,” said Tiki Begiristain, Barcelona’s director of football between 2003 and 2010.

In the year Ronaldo’s world record £80m move to Real Madrid in 2009 catapulted the pair into one of football’s fiercest club rivalries – Barcelona and Real Madrid.

And by the time Ronaldo left for Juventus in 2018, the pair had won five Ballon d’Ors each. During the pair’s nine seasons together in Spain, Ronaldo scored 450 goals in 438 appearances for Real. Messi, 471 in 476 games for Barça.

But it became more than just numbers. Nowadays, it was private – and the rise of social media meant the world was watching.

“For Cristiano it was Lionel Messi and for Lionel Messi it was Christian. I have to beat this guy,” Begiristain said.

“The Mourinho-Guardiola rivalry mirrored the Ronaldo-Messi rivalry. And as players, they knew that game-winning goals were their way to victory,” said Spanish football writer Sid Lowe.

“We can see it all on our phones. And in turn, the global exposure for the Messi-Ronaldo rivalry was now sky high, it was completely off the charts. Everything they did has to be seen.

“On everyone’s lips in the press box, newspapers and social media comments, Cristiano and Leo are determined to compete against each other on the pitch. Their personal battle over them is mirrored by the ongoing title battle between the clubs.”

And what a battle it was. Messi and Barcelona undoubtedly won La Liga glory, but the Champions League was dominated by Real Madrid and Ronaldo.

In the year In 2012, Ronaldo inspired Real to their first La Liga title in four years, but it was Messi who claimed his fourth successive Ballon d’Or award – defying his rival. He went on to win four of the next five.

“There’s a real animosity that starts to develop,” Robinson said. “They don’t recognize each other that much, they hate to compare.

“If they’re the greatest of all time, they can’t stand it. In their day, there might be another one in the Football League.”

Deco added: “I don’t think there is anything similar to what happened with Messi and Ronaldo at the moment, because at the same time the two clubs, Barcelona and Madrid, were at the same level, fighting for major trophies.”

When Messi scored the 92nd minute winner for Barcelona at Real Madrid in 2017, he took off his shirt and cheered the crowd.

“In the popular narrative, Cristiano was the diva and Messi was Barcelona’s humble servant, but this was the moment Messi asserted himself against the competition, perhaps saying ‘look at me’ for the first time in his career,” Robinson said.

A few months later, Ronaldo faked his celebration when he scored a goal against Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup.

“If you want evidence of how much it is to fight each other, these are the pictures,” Balague added.