Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher claims that Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have persisted in their football careers due to their competitive spirit, which translates into a mutual disdain for each other.
Ronaldo showcased his prowess with a hat-trick for Al-Nassr against Al-Wehda, bringing his season’s goal tally to 47, while Messi dazzled for Inter Miami, contributing five assists and a goal in a 6-2 victory over New York Red Bulls in the USA.
Over the past two decades, the duo has collectively scored 1,500 goals, with Messi clinching eight Ballon d’Ors and Ronaldo securing five. Their rivalry, marked by their battle for the prestigious individual award, has endured for years. Carragher suggests that their animosity fuels their longevity in the sport, as they continually strive to outdo each other.
In an interview with Football365, Carragher remarked, “They definitely made each other better. But I think they probably can’t appreciate that until they’ve finished. While they’re playing, I bet they can’t stand each other. No matter what one did, the other would come back at them. They could never rest. They could never enjoy what they’d done as much because they knew the other one would be coming back at them to go and get more goals.”
He added, “I always felt that if one of them scored a hat-trick, the next night the other one would go and get a hat-trick. They had to always completely outshine each other.”
Carragher also highlighted the rarity of having two players dominate the footballing world for such an extended period, expressing doubt that the sport will witness a similar phenomenon in the future. He noted that while others may reach their level for a brief period, sustaining excellence like Messi and Ronaldo is unprecedented.
Reflecting on the rivalry, Carragher emphasized that it might have been tougher for Ronaldo, given the prevailing sentiment that Messi was the superior player. He speculated that this narrative likely fueled Ronaldo’s relentless pursuit of improvement, driving him to achieve greater heights and accumulate more accolades.
