Cristiano Ronaldo said he really admires Lionel Messi's career and the way he has pushed him to improve his own game. Ronaldo and Messi are widely regarded as two of the best footballers of a generation, and have won 11 Ballon d'Or awards between them.
At the peak of their rivalry the duo were playing at Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively, where they both won La Liga titles and Champions League trophies.
Ronaldo and Messi have spoken out on each other on occasion, and admitted that while they are rivals they have a deep respect for what the other has achieved.
Ronaldo previously told RMC Sport: "I really admire the career he has had so far. He has already said that he had trouble when I left the Spanish league because it is a rivalry