It has been discovered that CRISTIANO Ronaldo surprisingly said he would “leave football” if rival Lionel Messi won the 2019 Ballon d’Or.
On Wednesday, a biography of the 37-year-old Portuguese celebrity was published.
And when Thierry Marchand, the book’s author, met down with Ronaldo in 2019 to brainstorm ideas, he was mostly interested in learning about the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s upbringing, his family, and his friends.
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But shortly after leaving Real Madrid for Juventus, Ronaldo managed to smuggle in a few remarks about Messi, criticizing him for spending his entire career at Barcelona.
According to Ronaldo’s biography, as quoted by L’Equipe, “It’s easy to stay in your bubble when you’re successful.
“Coming to Turin was a risk I took. I took a risk when I switched clubs, championships, and football cultures, and that risk is undoubtedly what prevented me from winning the Ballon d’Or in 2018.
“If Messi wins the Ballon d’Or this year, I’m leaving football,” he continued.
2019 saw Messi win the Ballon d’Or, just barely defeating Liverpool center-back Virgil van Dijk.
As his Argentine adversary won a sixth Ballon d’Or, Ronaldo came in third.
Messi would eventually depart the Nou Camp in 2021 to join Paris Saint-Germain, two years after Ronaldo’s criticism.
And a few months later, after an outstanding last season with Barcelona and an Argentina victory in the Copa America, Messi would win his seventh Ballon d’Or.
Ronaldo hasn’t received the honor since he played for Real Madrid in 2017.
However, he did not actually hang up his boots as he had promised to do if Messi were to win the 2019 Ballon d’Or.
Instead, he left Juventus last year and joined Manchester United once more.
And in his first season back in England, he scored 24 goals, compared to Messi’s 11 for PSG.
But in the current campaign, the roles have been inverted, with Messi producing 12 goals and 14 assists to Ronaldo’s three goals and two assists.
When Ronaldo was criticized last season, Messi was asked about it, but the South American declined to defend his former rival.
“Manchester United is a really good squad with outstanding players,” he declared.
“Cristiano was previously familiar with the club, but that was at a different stage, and he has since made an excellent adjustment.
“He has always scored goals and has adapted well from the start.
“Manchester United are not as good in the Premier League as we all imagined, but it is a very tough and equal competition where things take many twists and turns.
We stopped playing in the same league a very long time ago. For the same objectives, we engaged in team and individual competition.
“For both of us and the fans, who much appreciated it, it was a very beautiful time. It is a lovely moment that will live on in football history.”