Cristiano Ronaldo has delivered the hammer blow to fans hoping he and great rival Lionel Messi might rekindle their rivalry once more, insisting that their time 'is gone'.

Messi and Ronaldo shared the stage for more than a decade at the pinnacle of football - largely on either side of the Barcelona-Real Madrid divide - sharing a total of 12 Ballon d'Or awards between them in 13 years. 

Ronaldo's move to Juventus saw an end to their serial meetings each season back in 2019, before a move to Saudi Arabia in January 2023, and Messi's switch to Inter Miami this season, saw them now playing on different continents. 

Messi's departure for David Beckham's MLS outfit was largely seen as an end to the pair's time sharing centre stage, and although there is still an opportunity for them to cross paths on the international stage, a meeting at club level is now unlikely.