Lionel Messi has revealed that Sergio Ramos was his most intense rival during their time facing off in El Clásico matches in Spain.
Messi, who spent his illustrious career at FC Barcelona, and Ramos, who led Real Madrid’s defense, had numerous fierce battles on the field.
“We fought a lot with Sergio Ramos,” Lionel Messi shared. “We later became teammates, but [before] in the Clásicos, we always grabbed each other. The Clásicos were intense.”
Their rivalry took an unexpected turn when both players joined Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in 2021, leaving behind their storied histories with their respective Spanish clubs to become teammates.
Ramos has previously lauded Messi, calling him “the best player football ever produced.”
Recently, it was announced that Ramos would be leaving Sevilla, the club where he began his career and to which he returned after his stint at PSG.
The 38 year-old defender, who scored seven goals in 37 appearances for Sevilla last season, opted not to extend his contract but denied any immediate plans to retire from football.
