How Messi Almost Made Ronaldo To Retire From Playing Football

Manchester United forward, Cristiano Ronaldo is claimed to have said he would “quit football” if Lionel Messi won the 2019 Ballon d’Or according to the author of his recently-released biography Cristiano.

A new biography on Ronaldo written by the former head of foreign football at France Football Thierry Marchand was released this week, with the author sitting down to speak to the now-Manchester United player in 2019.

Some of what Ronaldo said in that conversation is included in the final version of the book, including the revelation that Messi almost made him retire that year.

At the time, the Portuguese superstar was in his second year at Juventus while Messi was still at Barcelona. For the first time since 2007, neither player had won the most recent Ballon d’Or in 2018, with Luka Modric claiming the prize after excelling for Real Madrid and Croatia.

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The Portuguese legend claimed to Marchand he didn’t win it because, unlike Messi, he left his comfort zone to join Juventus, and that he’d retire if the Argentinian won the 2019 edition.

“It’s easy to stay in your bubble when you’re successful,” he said.

“I took a risk coming to Turin. I changed clubs, championships, and football culture, I took a risk and it was that risk that I’m sure, made me not win the Ballon d’Or in 2018.

“If Messi wins the Ballon d’Or this year, I’m leaving football.”

Messi did ultimately win it, claiming it for the sixth time with Liverpool center-back Virgil van Dijk close behind in the second and Ronaldo some way off in the third.

Ronaldo didn’t retire – were the claims taken out of context?

Despite his threat, five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo did of course decide to continue playing. He left Juventus to return to Manchester United in 2021 but is expected to leave Old Trafford in 2023.

Since the alleged comments, Messi has won a seventh award in 2021. In the same year, he finally left Barcelona to join PSG, however, this was due to the Catalan giants’ disastrous finances rather than any inherent desire to leave the “bubble” and the club he loves.

Ronaldo or his representatives have yet to comment on the claims made by Marchand and are unlikely to do so. Stories are constantly circulating about arguably the world’s most famous athlete and are usually met with radio silence.

It is possible that the interview and the claims relating to Messi were taken out of context or said in jest. Is it unlikely that Ronaldo would willingly sit down and bash his greatest rival, knowing the impact it would have on his public image