Cristiano Ronaldo has opened up about almost quitting football if Lionel Messi won the Ballon d’Or over him when he moved to Juventus.
The Portuguese star and Messi shared a never-before-seen rivalry as they constantly competed over who was the best player on the planet for over a decade.
He surpassed the Argentine on occasions and Messi also won the award in some seasons.
The attacker moved from Real Madrid to Juventus in 2018 as he looked to challenge himself in new competition.
It is a move for which he has been praised and critics often say it shows why he is better than Messi, who has spent most of his career at Barcelona.
Speaking about how the rivalry almost led to his retirement, Ronaldo was quoted by Football Italia as saying:
“It’s so easy to stay in your bubble when you’re successful, not to get out of your comfort zone.
“I dared to come to Turin, to change clubs, leagues, football culture. I put myself in danger. I took this risk that I am sure made me lose the Ballon d’Or.
“I don’t regret anything, but [I thought that] if Messi wins the Ballon d’Or this year [2018]I will quit soccer!
Juve FC says
Ronaldo is a very competitive player and he will never agree that Messi surpassed him in any year during the prime of his career.
Once he retires, he will live on as one of the best players we have ever seen.
However, he continues to play and it is a pleasure to see an incredible athlete like him on the field.
