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How much did the Messi-Ronaldo rivalry drive them both?
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How much did the Messi-Ronaldo rivalry drive them both?

BBC Sport · Jun 11, 2026, 5:20 AM · Also reported by 2 other sources

Key takeaways

  • How much did the Messi-Ronaldo rivalry drive them both?Close10They were two iconic shirt celebrations that came to define a rivalry like no other - but how much did Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo drive each other?
  • Hear from leading journalists on how two of football's greatest players reached unprecedented heights.
  • Watch Rivals: Messi v Ronaldo now on BBC i Player and listen to Sporting Giants: Messi v Ronaldo on BBC Sounds.

Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.

Focusing on two iconic celebrations, we look at how much the rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo drove them both.

Read full story on BBC Sport → More top stories

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