CRISTIANO RONALDO’S son thought Lionel Messi was ‘too short’ to be real when he met his dad’s great rival at the Ballon d’Or bash in 2017.
The Manchester United forward, 36, was still in the midst of his decade-long battle to be the world’s greatest player when he picked up the prize for a fifth time.
Then at Real Madrid, Ronaldo took his boy Cristiano Jr along to the gala and the youngster actually got to get up close and personal with the Barcelona legend.
However, due to the now Paris Saint-Germain star’s 5ft 5in height, he could not believe it was actually him.
Dolores Aveiro, Ronaldo’s mother, revealed the funny incident during an interview she gave last year.
She said: “I was with him and I said, ‘look, it’s Messi,’ and he replied, ‘that’s not Messi, he’s short.’
“Then my son encouraged him to wave. Messi is a very good person.
“My grandson is already taller than him, [laughs] it was a very fun moment.”
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Despite their incredible rivalry and battles on the pitch, the two icons have the utmost respect for each other.
Messi blamed the media for attempting to create problems between them, saying: “Only the media, the press, wants us to be at loggerheads but I’ve never fought with Cristiano.”
He also said: “There are many admirable athletes. Rafa Nadal, Federer, LeBron – in all sports there is always someone who stands out and is admirable for his work.
“Cristiano stands out in football. There are many who stand out and always do their best.”
Ronaldo and the six-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi faced off on numerous occasions in El Clasico while representing Madrid and Barcelona between 2009 and 2018.
But the Portuguese legend claims that his foe’s achievements on the pitch actually helped him to reach greater levels.
Ronaldo said previously: “I have no doubt that Messi has made me a better player and vice-versa.
“When I am winning trophies it must sting him and it’s the same for me when he wins.
“I really admire the career he [Messi] has had and from his side, he has already talked of the disappointment when I left Spain because it was a rivalry that he appreciated.
“It’s a good rivalry but it’s not unique — Michael Jordan had rivalries in basketball, there was Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost in Formula 1. The thing they all had in common is that they were healthy rivalries.”
And Ronaldo even suggested that he would love for the two greats to sit down together one day for a meal.
He added: “I have an excellent professional relationship [with Messi] because we have been sharing the same moments for 15 years.
“We’ve never had dinner together but I don’t see why we can’t in the future. I don’t see a problem with that.”
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