Cristiano Ronaldo plays down Lionel Messi rivalry

Cristiano Ronaldo has claimed that his supposed long-running rivalry with Lionel Messi is a myth.

Real Madrid's Ronaldo and Barcelona's Messi are widely regarded as two of the best players in the history of football, and it has long been debated who is the number one in world football.

Ronaldo, however, has insisted that there is no great rivalry between the two players, speaking of his "big mutual respect" for the Argentine.

"There is a big mutual respect between myself and Messi," Ronaldo told Coach Magazine. "The media like to make out like we have this big rivalry, but we don't. It is not like we are good friends, but there is a mutual respect on both sides."

Ronaldo and Messi, who have won seven Champions League titles between them, have dominated the Ballon d'Or over the last six years.