Lionel Messi previously admitted he would have liked to call Cristiano Ronaldo a team-mate before the Argentine landed his astonishing eighth Ballon d'Or triumph on Monday night.
Few pairings have ever dominated an award quite like Messi and Ronaldo have with football's most prestigious accolade. Since 2008, only two others have been presented with the gong: Luka Modric in 2018 and Karim Benzema in 2022. The rest have all ended up in the hands of either the Argentina legend or the ex-Real Madrid icon.
Due to the duopoly both have enjoyed with now 13 Ballons d'Or between them, fans have often wondered what it would be like to see both Messi and Ronaldo play alongside each other in the same team. They've met as opponents a number of times and played out many dramatic Clasicos back in their respective Barcelona and Real Madrid days, but never been team-mates.
It appears that Messi himself is no different. All the way back in 2015 while the two of them were aiming to outdo each other in the La Liga scoring charts, the Camp Nou hero conceded he'd like to consider Ronaldo a team-mate instead of an opponent one day.
"Yes, of course," he said when pressed for comment on the subject. "I always like to play with the best, and he is one of them. I think it will be difficult for us to play in the same team, but obviously I would like to. I was lucky enough to play and participate with many very good players and, obviously, I would also like to do it with him."
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Alas it is now unlikely the two will ever join forces. A 38-year-old Ronaldo is currently plying his trade in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr, while Messi is enjoying his time in the east coast of the United States with Inter Miami.
Though the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner has started in sensational fashion for Miami, that form is not why he has won the award yet again. Instead, it is almost certainly because of the fact the 36-year-old helped inspire Argentina to World Cup glory late last year.
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Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have 13 Ballon d'Ors between them (Alexander Hassenstein - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)The fact that neither Messi nor Ronaldo had won the most coveted trophy of all before then was often used as a stick to beat them with. However, the Rosario-born superstar went the distance in what was his last ever World Cup before he hangs up his boots once and for all.
It is widely believed that this latest Ballon d'Or triumph will also be his last, given his age and current club situation. Outside of the five major European leagues, even Messi may struggle to win the award for a ninth time while in the MLS.
After landing the gong, Messi admitted he "doesn't know how much longer" he'll be playing "as football changes so much day by day." The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner also added: "I couldn't imagine having the career I've had and everything I've achieved, the fortune I've had to be part of the best team in history".
If that is to be the case and this is the last time he wins this prize, then for both Messi and Ronaldo it has been some ride, some rivalry.
The likes of which we are unlikely to see again for quite some time.
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