Lionel Messi confessed the player he admires the most in football is his eternal rival, Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Barcelona legend sat down with La Sexta and discussed the other athletes he most admires.
“There are many athletes who are admirable,” he replied in an interview translated by Football Espana.
“Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer, LeBron James. In all sports there’s an athlete that stands out and is admirable for his work and what he does on a daily basis.
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“Cristiano Ronaldo is another example in football. There are many. I admire all the athletes who stand out.”
Since 2008, the Ballon d’Or has been almost exclusively shared out between the two players, with Messi taking it six times and Ronaldo five.