Sergio Ramos was Lionel Messi’s toughest rival in El Clásico
Kosport Magazine Sports – November 3, 2024
During his illustrious career, Lionel Messi has faced many formidable opponents. However, according to the Argentine superstar himself, none were more intense than Sergio Ramos in the heated El Clásico matches between Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Speaking on his nephew’s YouTube show, Messi opened up about his fierce rivalry with Ramos. “We fought a lot with Sergio Ramos. We later became teammates, but [before] in the Clásicos, we always grabbed each other. Those matches were intense,” he admitted.
The two players had numerous battles on the pitch during the years when Messi played for Barcelona and Ramos led Real Madrid’s defense. But their rivalry was unexpectedly put aside when they both joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2021, where they became teammates.
Ramos has also expressed his respect for Messi, previously stating that the Argentine is “the best player football has ever produced.” The 38-year-old defender recently announced his departure from Sevilla, where he returned to his boyhood club after two seasons with PSG.
“I had the option to stay at Sevilla, but I’ve taken a personal decision,” Ramos said of his departure. However, he denied any retirement plans, stating that he sees himself playing for another one or two years.
Kosport Magazine’s Take:
With rumors swirling about a possible move to MLS, where he could potentially face Messi once again, Ramos has stated that he has not made a decision about his future. But one thing is for sure – their rivalry will always be remembered in the intense matches between Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Messi himself has already made the move to MLS, joining Inter Miami in July 2023 after his contract with PSG expired. And while Ramos may be a fan of the USA, he maintains that his trip to Dallas to support Mavericks’ Luka Doncic was not related to his future plans.
As two icons of the football world, it will be interesting to see where their paths will cross next. But one thing is certain – their rivalry will always be remembered as one of the fiercest in football history.
