Gerard Pique, a former teammate of Lionel Messi at Barcelona and Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United, has shared valuable insights into Messi’s mindset during their intense rivalry for the Ballon d’Or. Despite the fierce competition between the two footballing giants, Pique insists that Messi was never “obsessed” with Ronaldo’s accomplishments.
Focused on Team Success
Messi has won the prestigious Ballon d’Or award eight times, compared to Ronaldo’s five, highlighting his exceptional career. Pique emphasizes that Messi’s primary focus remained on his own game and the success of his team, rather than being preoccupied with Ronaldo’s achievements.
“He wasn’t that type of guy. He was very team-focused, although he was getting all the first pages in all the newspapers and radios and TV,” Pique told talkSPORT. He added that Messi prioritized winning titles, such as the Champions League, over individual accolades.
“He was very close with all of us, and he was just focused on winning titles because he was the best. Then he was winning the Ballon d’Or, but it wasn’t something that was a priority for him.”
Continued Success
Recently, Messi led Argentina to victory in the Copa America and has since joined Inter Miami, where he continues to make an impact in the MLS. Pique’s reflections underscore Messi’s commitment to his team’s success and his ability to maintain focus amidst the pressures of being one of the greatest players in football history.