Despite being pitted against each other and dominating the football pitch for more than a decade, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have remained “classy” during their rivalry.

Both stars have praised each other on multiple occasions while dispelling the rumours of any hostility and animosity between them.

Ronaldo and Messi will come face to face one more time in what could be their final match against each other with the former’s Al Nassr going up against the latter’s Inter Miami on February 1, 2024, in the Riyadh Season Cup next year.

Ronaldo has been candid about being pitted against Messi and has admitted that both players share a relationship based on “mutual respect”.

Responding to a query regarding the possibility of going up against the Argentine striker and whether he holds any hatred against him, Ronaldo has categorically rejected the existence of animosities against his rival.

He further underscored that his fans should not hate Messi and neither the Inter Miami fans should hate him.

“He’s followed his path and I have followed mine […] The legacy lives on, but I don’t see the rivalry like that,” mirror.co.uk reported quoting Ronaldo.

The Portuguese star further stressed that he and Messi are professional colleagues and respect each other.

Meanwhile, Messi too, has praised his rival as a great competitor terming their rivalry as “enjoyable” and a “great battle”.