Lionel Messi insists he would happily accept Cristiano Ronaldo’s surprise dinner invitation.
The long-time, who have dominated European football for over a decade, were forced to watch on at the recent Champions League draw ceremony as Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk scooped the award for the best player in last season’s competition.
Van Dijk’s triumph was somewhat overshadowed, however, by Ronaldo’s gushing praise of his long-time rival before his surprise offer of an olive branch.
Responding to Ronaldo’s invite, Messi told Sport: ‘Yes, I don’t have any problem with that.
Leo Messi was the top scorer in last season’s UEFA Champions League with 12 goals, the first season that Cristiano Ronaldo did not scoop the award since 2012 ⚽️
Ronaldo spoke about their rivalry at the #UCLDraw and whether the two have made any dinner plans ?️? pic.twitter.com/ax4nKw5y5A
— SuperSport (@SuperSportTV) August 30, 2019
‘I’ve always said that I don’t have any issue with him. We might not be friends because we’ve never shared a dressing room together but I always see him at award shows and there’s no problem.
‘We actually spoke with each other for quite a long time at the most recent show. I don’t know if there will be a dinner because I don’t know if our paths will cross for obvious reasons, each one of us has our own life and our own commitments. But obviously I would accept the invitation.’
On whether he is the favourite to land this year’s Ballon d’Or, he added: ‘I don’t know. The Ballon d’Or is strange, no one really knows who is the favourite.
‘Recently they’ve looked more at the club’s results, which isn’t a bad thing. Sometimes it’s been for the World Cup which not everyone values the same. I don’t know.
‘Honestly, there isn’t a specific line on which you can define the Ballon d’Or winner. I’ve never felt I was the favourite or not. As I’ve said before, individual awards are secondary to me.’
