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Cristiano Ronaldo challenges Lionel Messi to join him in Serie A

Last updated on .From the section European Footballcomments235

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have both won the Ballon d'Or award five times

Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo has challenged Lionel Messi to leave Barcelona and sign for a club in Italy.

Portugal international Ronaldo joined Serie A champions Juventus from Real Madrid in a £99.2m deal in the summer.

Ronaldo and Argentina forward Messi, 31, have long been regarded as the world's best players, each winning five Ballon d'Or awards before Real Madrid's Luka Modric claimed this year's prize.

"I'd like him to come to Italy one day," said Ronaldo, 33.

"I hope he accepts the challenge like me, but if he's happy there then I respect that."

Ronaldo spent nine seasons at Real Madrid after arriving from Manchester United in 2009, with Messi having spent his whole career at La Liga rivals Barcelona.

Asked if he missed Messi during an interview with Italian press, Ronaldo added: "No, maybe it's him who misses me.

"I've played in England, Spain, Italy, Portugal and for my national team, while he's still in Spain.

"Maybe he needs me more. For me, life is a challenge, I like it and I like to make people happy.

"He's a fantastic player and a good guy, but I don't miss anything here. This is my new life and I'm happy.

"I left my comfort zone and took on this challenge here in Turin. Everything has gone well, I've proven I'm still an incredible player."

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235 comments

  • Comment posted by Walks619, at 13:25 10 Dec 2018

    Clever, this, from Ronaldo.

    He knows only Juve could afford Messi, and in current European stature, they are the only team LM would want to possibly go to in Serie A.

    He also knows that Messi would never join forces with him, so by making this statement (knowing it will never happen) it looks like Messi has backed out of a challenge

  • Comment posted by I Miss That Shed, at 13:34 10 Dec 2018

    I'd take Messi over Ronaldo any day of the week but to be fair to Ronaldo, he has a point here.
    When their careers are over and the obvious comparisons made - CR will tick the box of having done the business in the 3 strongest leagues in the world.
    Its unlikely LM will be able to say the same.

  • Comment posted by Newyork, at 13:44 10 Dec 2018

    Why did Ronaldo go to Juve, because he knew they win the league every year ( have done for the past 7) not really a challenge!!
    Looks good on your CV I suppose.

  • Comment posted by A-FORCE, at 13:33 10 Dec 2018

    Of the other Italian teams only Inter Milan have any leverage to sign Messi (with Icardi going the other way).

    Can't see it ever happening and is obviously just Ronaldo having a dig.

  • Comment posted by Wackford Squeers, at 13:36 10 Dec 2018

    Perhaps Ronaldo doesn't understand loyalty to your team and fans.

  • Comment posted by leedsleedsleeds, at 14:31 10 Dec 2018

    When they were both playing in the same league for 10 years, Ronaldo only won 2 titles compared to Messi's 7. Messi also finished top scorer more often, provided more assists every season and is considered to be the best player in La Liga history. Ronaldo moved because he was always second best Messi in spain, why should Messi chase him to Italy he has proved over the last 10 years he is better!

  • Comment posted by TheHarold, at 13:42 10 Dec 2018

    As much as people will ridicule him for his ego; he has a point. He's done it in the 3 toughest leagues in Europe, and dragged Portugal to a major trophy. Messi will never leave Barcelona, but Ronaldo will always have the fact he's proven himself wherever he has gone.

  • Comment posted by Fabio07, at 15:28 10 Dec 2018

    Messi says nothing about anyone. He just plays. I wish Ronaldo, Pele, Maradona, and every other bucket-mouthed prima donna out there would just leave him alone and enjoy him while he's still playing. BTW, given current events, holding yourself up as someone to emulate off the pitch is something only Ronaldo's unimaginable arrogance could conceive....

  • Comment posted by IssP227, at 14:42 10 Dec 2018

    In terms of goalscoring Messi and Ronaldo are very similar.

    In terms of creativity Messi is significantly better.

    Overall Messi is better.

  • Comment posted by Pedro_the_general, at 16:59 10 Dec 2018

    I thought it was a perfectly fair comment and an argument well pitched until...until dear Ronaldo, as always, had to let his ego take over.
    "I'm still an incredible player". Wonderful. What a great guy he must be.
    Messi may not want to move, but then he has a young family at school and has unswerving loyalty to the club that has been his family since he was 13.
    Ronaldo is loyal to a family of 1

  • Comment posted by Celts, at 14:32 10 Dec 2018

    @20 "he dragged Portugal to a major trophy."

    Think that's a bit of an exaggeration. He scored 3 goals in 7 games during that tournament, and was injured for most of the final. Messis world cup performance in 2014 was better than that so its's a stupid argument really.

  • Comment posted by Redman, at 14:13 10 Dec 2018

    Messi is miles better than Ronaldo, always has been and always will be. The only people who claim Ronaldo is better are people who don't understand football.
    And why should Messi leave Barca? There's nothing wrong in being a one-club player. Guys like Maldini, Totti etc. are lauded for it being Messi is criticized for remaining loyal to Barca, the club that developed him.

  • Comment posted by Gazolba, at 15:14 10 Dec 2018

    He's proven he can be just as arrogarnt a tw @ t in Italy as he was in Spain.

  • Comment posted by DarthVader, at 20:45 10 Dec 2018

    A brilliant player undoubtedly,but his over confidence and his unshakable belief in his own magnificence make him hard to warm to.

  • Comment posted by SeanyB1, at 14:36 10 Dec 2018

    How is Italy more of a challenge than Spain? In Spain you have 3 teams that can realistically win the league (and indeed the champions league). In Italy you have Juventus who have won the title the last 7 years in a row!

  • Comment posted by GAZZATROT, at 14:01 10 Dec 2018

    It has to be said, Cristiano does sound very preoccupied with Lionel.

  • Comment posted by PCorker, at 18:47 10 Dec 2018

    They are both exceptional footballers.

    However, Messi doesn't seem to need to big himself up every 5 minutes or check his hairs ok on the big screens during matches.

    For those reasons I choose Messi.

  • Comment posted by OGG- OrigiGoalGangsta, at 17:41 10 Dec 2018

    "I left my comfort zone" to join by far the best Italian side for years & most expensively assembled Italian club squad, just to goal hang, knock in the odd penalty & harangue the referee every second the opposing team has the ball?

    Ronny, your ignorance is always out-shown by your own hype. All because you're not getting the same amount of media coverage (therefore cash) & are pants now.

  • Comment posted by footballfan, at 21:01 10 Dec 2018

    Like for messi dislike for Ronaldo

  • Comment posted by Dave F, at 15:09 10 Dec 2018

    If Ronaldo really wanted to challenge himself, why has he gone to the biggest team in Italy. They have won the last 7 titles and would probably win this year without him. A greater challange would have been to go to a mid table team and try to turn them into challengers.

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