Gerard Pique reveals Lionel Messi's obsession with Cristiano Ronaldo: Insights into football's greatest rivalry

Compared to Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi has prevailed on the Golden Ball front with eight wins to his name, however, both players possess a stunning collection of entries in the record books and major honours.

Argentine Lionel Messi never paid much attention to the Portuguese Ronaldo, as per ex-partner of Colombian pop superstar Shakira. Pique played alongside the Portuguese soccer legend at Barcelona and the latter at Manchester United, according to Goal.

“He wasn’t that type of guy. He was very team-focused, although he was getting all the first page in all the newspapers and radios and TV. At the end of the day, he was very close with all of us and he was just focused on winning titles like the Champions League and these kinds of things. At the end of the day because he was the best. Then he was winning the Ballon d’Or but it wasn’t something that was a priority for him,” Gerard Pique told talkSPORT.

Pique added on leaving La Masia to learn his senior trade in England: "It was amazing that time because I was very, very young and every day when I arrived to the dressing room, I mean we had [Ryan] Giggsy, [Paul] Scholesy, Gary Neville. So that generation from [The Class of] 92, it was incredible but at the same time we had the Rooneys, Ronaldos that were coming. I remember that time like crazy, every training was like a chance to prove that I was able to play at that level.”

Ronaldo has registered 36 goals through 39 appearances this season for Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Nassr, whereas, Messi is looking to enhance his standing as the most-decorated player of all-time at MLS side Inter Miami.