Messi played in El Clasico 15 times without Ronaldo in the opposing line-up, having represented Barcelona before and after his old rival’s nine-year stint in the Spanish capital.

Across Ronaldo’s nine years with Real Madrid, he only won two league titles while Messi’s Barcelona won six (Atletico Madrid briefly broke up the duopoly in 2013-14).

Yet the mutual respect and the unforgettable moments they gave fans—especially in the Barcelona vs Real Madrid clashes—remain etched in football history. “We stayed at the top for 10, 15 years.