If you like me, you don’t have to hate Messi: Ron

Updated On: 08 September, 2023 09:14 AM IST | London | Agencies

Portugal star puts his long-standing rivalry with Argentina’s World Cup-winning captain in perspective

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Cristiano Ronaldo. Pic/Getty Images

Cristiano Ronaldo is in a reflective mood as he brings up 20 years in Portugal’s national team, insisting that he and his great rival Lionel Messi ‘changed the history of football’ and that he still wants to raise the bar at the age of 38. Ronaldo’s debut for Portugal was in August 2003 and two decades later, the most prolific scorer in men’s internationals—with 123 goals in a record 200 games—will be playing for the team in a European Championship qualifier at Slovakia.

‘Proud of my numbers’

“I am proud of the numbers I reached. But, I want more,” Ronaldo said. “When I play, the bar has to be up here, I want to think big.” On his rivalry with Argentina’s reigning World Cup-winning captain Messi, 36, Ronaldo added: “If you like Cristiano Ronaldo, you don’t have to hate Messi. We are both very good. We changed the history of football. We are respected all over the world. That’s the most important thing. He has marked his path, I have marked mine.”

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