In a shocking revelation, Cristiano Ronaldo has disclosed that he was close to joining Lionel Messi at Barcelona before signing with Manchester United.
During an interview, Ronaldo shared that while at Sporting Lisbon, he had multiple offers, including one from Barcelona.
“I was approached by someone from Barcelona, but the deal didn’t materialize. Maybe they wanted me for the following year,” Ronaldo stated.
Instead, Manchester United seized the opportunity, signing the future star and altering the trajectory of modern football.
Ronaldo and Messi have since become two of the greatest rivals in sports history, with countless accolades and records between them. Though Ronaldo boasts five Ballon d'Or titles, many argue that Messi’s World Cup triumph with Argentina solidifies his status as the Greatest of All Time (GOAT).
The possibility of these two legends playing side by side remains one of football’s greatest “what ifs.”