Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have dominated world football over the past decade.

Before Luka Modric surprisingly claimed the 2018 Ballon d’Or, Messi and Ronaldo had shared the previous ten.

To dominate world football like they have for so long is unprecedented.

That’s why they’ve both got genuine claims to be called the greatest of all-time.

And we’re so lucky that we’ve been able to witness both of them at the peak of their powers at the same time.

And perhaps Messi and Ronaldo themselves are lucky they existed in the same era.

They’ve driven each other onto new heights year upon year, both wanting to smash each other records.

And it’s something that Ronaldo acknowledges.

"I really admire the career he has had and from his side, he has already talked of the disappointment when I left Spain because it was a rivalry that he appreciated," Ronaldo told TVI in Portugal.

"It's a good rivalry but it's not unique -- Michael Jordan had rivalries in basketball, there was Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost in Formula 1. The thing they all had in common is that they were healthy rivalries."

I have no doubt that Messi has made me a better player and vice-versa. When I am winning trophies it must sting him and it's the same for me when he wins.

But despite the fans of both players often wanting to create some kind of fierce rivalry between the two players, Ronaldo insists that’s certainly not the case. In fact, he’s open to going out to dinner with Messi one day.

"I have an excellent professional relationship because we have been sharing the same moments for 15 years," Ronaldo added.

We've never had dinner together but I don't see why we can't in the future. I don't see a problem with that.