Cristiano Ronaldo believes his personal rivalry with Lionel Messi ‘has only just begun’ after lifting FIFA’s The Best title for 2017.
The Real Madrid forward defended his awarded and will hope to successfully retain his Ballon d’Or title later this year over his Barcelona counterpart, who finished second in the voting.
“It is not finished yet, it has only just begun,” Ronaldo told reporters after being asked if his rivalry with Messi was over.
“I don’t compete with Leo, he is a player who I am with in the same era.
“He won five times and I have won five times too as the best individual player in the world, so it is what it is.
“Obviously I am happy because I am playing for the best club in the world and I have had the opportunity to demonstrate that I can play at a very high level over the years.
“I am still doing very well, I am relaxed and at this moment, I have to enjoy this.”
