Ronaldo's Rivalry Is The Media's Invention; Lionel Messi Insists

Barcelona ace, Lionel Messi, has revealed that there " is no rivalry" between him and Real Madrid superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo adding that it is an invention of the media.

Both players, who have dominated European and world football at the moment have won the last seven Ballon d'Or awards and are equally playing in the Spanish La Liga.

"There is no rivalry – it is just something that the media have invented," the 27-year-old attacker told Short List.

"It’s not Messi versus Ronaldo; it never has been."

Messi and Barcelona's resurgence this season is made all the more remarkable for the fact that the Rosario native admitted publicly last November that he could leave Camp Nou.

However, he says that he now wants to remain in Catalunya for as long as the club want him, admitting that he has never regretted his decision to join the Blaugrana over other interested clubs, including Premier League outfit Arsenal.

“It’s difficult to say how it might have turned out if I’d have gone to Arsenal," he stated.

"My education would have been different to the one I had at Barcelona but it’s obvious that the Premier League is one of the most competitive leagues in Europe.

"But Barcelona have given me everything; they gave me an opportunity when nobody else would.

"I have never wanted to play anywhere else and I’ll stay there as long as they want me."

Messi scored 58 times in just 57 games during Barca's treble triumph, with the pick of the bunch arguably his already iconic strike against Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-finals, when he left Jerome Boateng on his backside.

However, he has played down the nature of his individual brilliance, arguing that he would be nothing without his supporting cast.

"My Barca team-mates are always close and they congratulate me when I score but I couldn’t put in performances like that if I didn’t have exceptional players alongside me," he added.

“You always want to score but scoring isn’t everything.

"Just look at Luis Suarez, who wasn’t scoring a lot at the start of the campaign but he was working hard.

"Now we are all getting among the goals and that is good for the team, that’s what helps us get results." Goal