Lionel Messi’s Ballon d’Or U-turn Speaks Volumes About Rivalry With Cristiano Ronaldo

• Lionel Messi is set to win a record-breaking eighth Ballon d'Or award on Monday
• The former Barcelona star and Cristiano Ronaldo have won a collective 12 awards
• The Argentine superstar's opinion about the award has differed over the years

Lionel Messi is set to receive yet another Ballon d'Or award to take his tally to eight, which would be extending his record of seven, but it looks like the Argentine is not bothered too much about the award.

Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been rivals for over fifteen seasons, as they won almost all the awards and broke different records.

The former Barcelona star presently sits at the summit of the players with the most Ballon d'Or awards, with Ronaldo coming close in second place. However, the Argentine's opinions about the award have differed over the years.

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The 36-year-old football star's aspirations over the years have evolved past individual awards, with team accolades being his biggest motivation.

In 2017, Messi claimed he was hurt after Ronaldo levelled up with him for players with the most Ballon d'Or awards, according to a report by The Mirror.

"On the one hand, I appreciated having five and being the only one to do so," he said at that time.

"When Cristiano levelled me, I have to admit that it hurt me a bit. I was no longer alone at the summit. But it was logical, even if it is nice when you are alone on five."

In 2019, the former Paris Saint-Germain forward made a U-turn on his rivalry with the Portuguese veteran and claimed his priorities had moved past individual accolades, but still admitted winning the Ballon d'Or was important.

"I have said it many times, the Ballon d'Or is very important due to the recognition at the individual level, but I never gave it importance, between quotes, the most important thing for me was always the awards at the group level," the Argentine claimed.

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Messi will move three clear of Ronaldo's five if he is announced the winner of the Ballon d'Or on Monday, October 30.

Ronaldo claims he deserves more Ballon d'Ors

Sports Brief also reported that the former Real Madrid star, Ronaldo once expressed his belief that he deserved to win more Ballon d'Ors than his long-time rival, Messi.

To put the star pair's dominance into perspective, they have won a collective 12 awards, with the Argentine carting home the honour a record seven times.