During their peak, Messi played for Barcelona and Ronaldo for Real Madrid, creating a rivalry that defined an entire generation of football fans.

Messi and Ronaldo are widely regarded as two of the greatest players of all time, and their achievements on the pitch are staggering. They accumulated numerous titles and scored countless goals for their respective clubs.

Despite the fierce competition between them, the rivalry remained respectful, and Messi looks back on the time spent competing with Ronaldo fondly.

"It was always a challenge," Messi said. "In a sporting sense, it was very beautiful. We pushed each other to be better because we're both extremely competitive.

"He always wanted to win everything, and so did I. It was a beautiful time for us and for football fans."