Cristiano Ronaldo discusses his relationship with 'magic' Lionel Messi

Cristiano Ronaldo has said that while they are not necessarily friends, he has a 'great' relationship with Lionel Messi, who he admits is 'amazing'.

Ronaldo's TV interview with Piers Morgan has sparked huge controversy, with the Manchester United forward being highly critical of his club, manager and younger team-mates.

One person he was positive about though was Messi, his main rival throughout his career, with the two competing to be the best player in the world for a number of years.

When asked by Morgan what he thought of the PSG man, Ronaldo praised his footballing abilities and how he conducts himself off the pitch.

“He is an amazing player. Magic. Top," he told Morgan on Talk TV.

"As a person, we share the stage for 16 years. Imagine 16 years. So, I have a great relationship with him.

"I am not a friend of him, in the sense that someone who always spends at my house or talking on the phone. But he is like a teammate – a guy I really respect. I like the way he speaks about me.

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"Even his wife and my girlfriend, they always respect each other. They are from Argentina. So it is all good. He is a good guy, he does everything for football."

When asked whether Messi was the best player ever asides from himself, Ronaldo said it was either the Argentine or Zinedine Zidane, his former manager at Real Madrid.

"Probably, yes," he said. "Zidane is there, probably. But yes."