Ronaldo and Messi's rivalry explained after brutal Ballon d'Or mockery
Lionel Messi was rewarded for his performances at last year's World Cup with an eighth Ballon d'Or on Monday night. But the coy response of Cristiano Ronaldo to the vote inadvertently showed their rivalry has never really subsided.
Their dominance of the prize attests to their individual brilliance during that time, with their contributions to the sport defining an era spanning 15 years. However, after Messi was named the world's best player for a record-extending eighth time, it was clear that his old foe Ronaldo was not in any mood to extend his congratulations.
In fact, the Al-Nassr forward's only response to the news that his adversary had won yet another Ballon d'Or said a lot about his feelings towards his peer. Reacting to a scathing video of Messi by a Spanish journalist posted on Instagram, Ronaldo commented with four laughter emojis.
In the video, the reporter blasted: "He went to retire in Miami, even though he already looked like he was retired at PSG preparing for the World Cup. He won the World Cup, yes, good, but with six penalties... The World Cup was ten months ago, it's November.
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"Messi has eight Ballon d'Ors, he should have had five. He has Iniesta/Xavi's Ballon d'Or, Lewandowski's who won six trophies in one season and Haaland's who was the top scorer."
Between 2008 and 2017, the honour was only shared between the two - which only seemed to stoke any antagonism. Ronaldo last won the famed golden ball back in 2017, with this the fifth time he would take home the award.
Messi, however, has won it twice since to take his total to eight- three clear of his rival. To identify where the true seeds for this famous rivalry were first sown, though, minds need to be cast all the way back to Ronaldo's move to Real Madrid in 2009.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have a famously mercurial relationship (UEFA via Getty Images)Early years (2009-2013)
Ronaldo would first win the Ballon d'Or while he was playing for Manchester United back in 2008, but his move to the Santiago Bernabeu meant that he would become a direct rival to Messi's Barcelona. From there, a true stand-off would emerge, rooted out of the long-standing hostility between both clubs.
In the case of the Barcelona at that time, they would win the Champions League in 2009 and 2011 under Pep Guardiola. That team is regarded by many as perhaps the best XI in the modern era. Messi would provide the goals to inspire his team to European glory on both occasions.
And the rivalry between the two clubs was ramped up further when Jose Mourinho was named Madrid boss in 2010. In 2012, he would lead Los Blancos to their first domestic title since 2008, with his team having reached a record tally in that campaign of 100 points. Despite Ronaldo scoring 46 goals during that season, however, he would not win another Ballon d'Or until 12 months later with Messi clinching it every year 2009- 2012.
Jose Mourinho's stint at Real Madrid seemed to help the rivalry between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi develop (Helios de la Rubia/Getty Images)Rivalry dials up (2013-2019)
From 2013 Ronaldo would finally gain the upper hand on his adversary as Los Blancos came to dominate Europe once more. By this point, the Barca team compiled by Guardiola had started to lose its edge in continental competitions, with the manager leaving in 2012.
Their perennial rivals would soon grow in the years that followed as they re-established their supremacy, with Ronaldo a driving force. In the years between 2014 and 2018, Madrid would win the Champions League four times, to Barcelona's one in 2015.
Both the Portuguese icon and Messi would dominate the goalscoring charts in the domestic game and internationally during that period. However, it would be Ronaldo who would walk away with the Ballon d'Or more in that time, winning in 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017 editions, with Messi winning in 2015.
Cristiano Ronaldo would establish his dominance in the Ballon d'Or stakes in the mid-2010s (AFP/Getty Images)Rivalry runs course (2019-2023)
A major catalyst for the fierce rivalry between Messi and Ronaldo eventually dying down would come as both players departed Barcelona and Madrid in 2021 and 2018. Of course, with neither player coming face-to-face for major honours at PSG or Juventus, a truce of sorts would develop.
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This is in large part to the fact Messi kept winning and Ronaldo did not. The Argentine picked up the award in both 2021 and 2023, with the latter coming after finally winning the World Cup - forever one upping Ronaldo.
Reflecting on his landmark Ballon d'Or win this year, though, it was clear that Messi was now of the view that the rivalry with Ronaldo had run its course. He said, via L'Equipe : "It was a great battle, from a sporting point of view.
Lionel Messi won his 8th Ballon d'Or award in 2023 (FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)"We fed off each other's rivalry because we're both great competitors. He, too, always wanted to win everything, all the time. It was a very enjoyable time for both of us and for everyone who loves football.
"I think we deserve a lot of credit for having managed to stay at the top for so long. Because as they say, it's easy to get there. What's difficult is staying there.
"And we stayed at the top for ten, fifteen years. It's very difficult to stay at that level and it's spectacular. And I think it remains a good memory for all those who followed us."
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