Cristiano Ronaldo has insisted that he does not have a bad relationship with Lionel Messi, despite the perennial rivalry between both players.

The two footballers have dominated world football in the past few years and are widely accepted as the best of the two, as they have shared the Ballon d’Or prize between themselves for the last six years.

Ronaldo says that although he does not have a relationship with the Barcelona forward outside football, it is not as bad as the media paints it.

“It’s not at all true that we have a bad relationship. We are colleagues and have a professional relationship,” the Portugal star was quoted as saying by Marca.

“We don’t have a relationship outside of football like I have with some other players. He tries to do his best for his club and national team and I do the same. There is a certain rivalry where we are each doing our utmost for our teams.

“This rivalry is part of my life. It is only normal that people compare us. The same happens in Formula 1 with Ferrari and Mercedes. I’m used to it. This has been the case not only since I joined Madrid, but already when I was still at Manchester United.

“I hope that we can both laugh about all this. Football is a game, it’s something fun and something we both like. We must face this rivalry in a positive way because it is a good thing. Football is something beautiful that all the fans enjoy.”