Ronaldo-Messi rivalry is finished, claims Valverde

Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde claims that the Ronaldo-Messi rivalry is finished following Cristiano Ronaldo‘s move to Juventus.

After completing his transfer from Manchester United to Real Madrid in 2009, the Portuguese international spent nine years with Los Blancos, competing with Lionel Messi and Barcelona for football’s top honours, before moving on to Juventus in the summer.

But, with Ronaldo now playing his football in Italy’s Serie A, Valverde told Barcelona club media (via Football Espana): “Ronaldo’s departure (from Madrid) will probably end that particular rivalry.

“People would always mention the other when one interested the competition so this move will likely change that quite a bit.

“It will be interesting to see how Real Madrid’s football changes, to see what they may do in the transfer market and what the move means for La Liga and in European competition.”

Ronaldo has so far featured in one competitive match for Juventus, a 3-2 win over Chievo, although the forward did not score.

Ronaldo v Messi 

Ronaldo today.
Messi tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/u4uk4H8Vq4

— Squawka Football (@Squawka) June 15, 2018

The Ronaldo-Messi rivalry has been one of the greatest ever seen between two individual footballers, played out within the backdrop of the El Classico rivalry.

After making his move to the Bernabeu in 2009, Ronaldo went on to play 438 games in all competitions for Los Blancos, scoring an incredible 450 goals. Meanwhile, Messi, a product of Barcelona’s esteemed youth academy, has bagged 554 goals in 638 appearances for the Blaugrana.

Ronaldo won four Champions League titles during his time with Madrid, bringing his career total to five, while Messi has also won four European crowns with Barcelona.

Messi dominates in terms of domestic titles in Spain, having won the league nine times alongside six Cop del Rey titles. Ronaldo only has two La Liga and Copa del Rey crowns but has won the Premier League on three occasions.

On the international scene, Messi’s struggles have been well documented and, to date, he has only managed an Olympic gold medal in 2008 for his country – although he is Argentina’s record goalscorer and much of the blame here can be shifted onto his teammates. Ronaldo is also Portugal’s record goalscorer and finally secured a major international honour in 2016 by winning the European Championship – A Selecao Das Quinas were also runners-up in 2004.

And in terms of individual awards, the two cannot be separated. Messi and Ronaldo both have five Ballon d’Or crowns to their name, dominating football’s biggest individual prize since Kaka won it in 2007.

Whether the two get the chance to lock horns once more in this season’s Champions League is yet to be seen.

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