Cristiano Ronaldo Sent Rio Ferdinand Angry Texts About Lionel Messi

Having also produced news content for HITC Sport and Read Liverpool, he has created a wide range of content for GMS, including news, opinion, features, lists and viral sport content.

His passion for sports extends further than football, as he has covered several sports for GMS, including Boxing, Tennis, and Wrestling. Sign in to your GiveMeSport account Lionel Messi has all but wrapped up the debate when it comes to the greatest players in football history. After breaking the record to become the World Cup's top goalscorer, the Argentine has just cemented his status at the very top further.

Following the 2022 World Cup triumph in Qatar, the 39-year-old had virtually completed the sport. There's very little for him to prove, but the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner is proving he's still the best on the biggest stage.

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One man who would argue against Messi's reputation as the best to ever grace a football pitch is Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese forward has always been vocal in his opinion that no one is better than him. His messages to ex-teammate Rio Ferdinand suggest he doesn't enjoy the comparisons, though.

Speaking at Euro 2020, Ferdinand explained what separated Ronaldo from the rest in terms of his mentality. "He was an obsessed human in terms of becoming the best," he said of his old Manchester United colleague (per The Mirror).

The retired England defender then went on to wax lyrical about Ronaldo's ability to play well beyond the age of 30, which is when others begin to slow down. He continued:

"After 30, we all sit in here, went down. He has gone on. Accelerated. Defies logic really.

"It's down to commitment, a little bit of luck genetically as well. But he's just a phenomenal football player, somebody who thinks of every little detail, aspect of the game to try to get every ounce of ability out of himself."

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"It's not just about physically but mentally. His touches have gone down since he was a young kid in 2004, but obviously the touches in the box where he's going to affect games have gone up," Ferdinand concluded.

Gary Lineker was present on the show and Ferdinand explained how the ex-England striker managed to wind up Ronaldo. Lineker has always been vocal in his support of Messi in the debate between the two icons.

But the Man Utd legend wasn't best pleased when hearing Lineker openly backing his long-term foe. He made sure to let Ferdinand know through some angry text messages.

"It's a great example to young players and he uses negativity as fuel. You've [Gary Lineker] said some things like your preference would be Messi out of the two," Ferdinand told Lineker.

Ronaldo uses the negativity to fuel his own performances, according to Ferdinand. He'll certainly need to do that if he's to catch up at the World Cup. Nonetheless, Rio added:

"He will send me a text saying 'I can't believe he said that, can't believe he's done that'. He just uses anything [as fuel].

"You think, he's done so much in his life, 'Why do you care about what anyone says about you. You know you're the guy'. It's the competitive nature. That's all it is. And you need that."