#4 His rivalry with Lionel Messi
People refer to the El Clasico as the best match on the planet between rivals.
In a clash between two of the finest sides on planet earth, play the best players in the world today. The most expensive players are always compared and put against each other, even when there are no historic rivalries like the Real Madrid-Barcelona one.
The two geniuses chase each other on and off the field. The record broken by one is chased by the other, game after game, season after another. Below is a table which compares the main records and numbers set by each player:
| Award | Ronaldo | Messi |
| World Player of the Year | 4 times | 5 times |
| European Player of the Year | 3 times | 3 times |
| League Player of the Year | 3 times | 6 times |
| La Liga top goal scorer | 3 times | 3 times |
| World Team of the Year | 10 times | 10 times |
| UEFA Team of the Year | 11 times | 8 times |
The above table shows how close it is to separate the two on the football pitch, and regardless of which team or player you support, this rivalry is enjoyed and cherished by the majority of football fans. The footballing world will miss the two when the moment comes and they call it a day.
Such a rivalry must only be referred to as “clean competition” and it only helps both players to be more popular.
