In the second part of his interview with Piers Morgan, released on November 6, Cristiano Ronaldo addressed Wayne Rooney’s recent comments comparing him to Lionel Messi.
Rooney, Ronaldo’s former Manchester United teammate, had praised the Portuguese star as a “genius” and an “easy teammate,” but maintained that Messi was still the better player.
When asked for his reaction, Ronaldo remained calm and respectful:
“Whatever he says, it doesn’t matter,” Ronaldo said. “I can accept his opinion; I have no problem with it. He’s free to say what he wants.”
Morgan teased him for giving a “formulaic answer,” but Ronaldo stood firm, explaining that he holds no resentment toward his former strike partner.
“When we played together, we had a good relationship — though not the kind of friendship where I’d invite him over for lunch or dinner,” Ronaldo continued. “My relationship with Rooney was always professional and based on football.”
He added that he values the meaning of true friendship deeply:
“The word ‘friend’ means a lot to me. I don’t use it lightly. I’m a social person, but most relationships in football are built on respect — and that’s how it was with Rooney.”
Ronaldo also expressed appreciation for Rooney’s career and their shared success at Manchester United:
“I respect him even more now because of what he achieved at the club. We won many things together. Whether he says I’m a genius or that Messi is better than me — it’s fine. I respect his opinion.”
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner concluded by emphasizing that there’s no tension between them:
“If we meet again, I’ll shake his hand and give him a hug. I’ve never been his enemy. I respect everyone.”
Published on November 6, 2025
By goalx365