Ronaldo, Messi rivalry fires up Spanish fans
Saturday, 26 September 2009
MADRID, Sept 25 (AFP): Just four weeks into the Spanish season, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, two of the best strikers in the world, are already forging a rivalry that has fans drooling.
The superstars of Real Madrid and Barcelona have scored five goals each in four matches played so far, leaving their clubs atop the Primera Liga.
"I only want to win, not to be the 'pichichi' (top scorer)" of La Liga, claimed Ronaldo, known as 'CR9', after scoring a great solo goal in the first minute of Real's 2-0 defeat of Villareal Wednesday.
"I'm lucky to play alongside teammates who play very well," said Messi, after two spectacular goals that helped European champions Barcelona crush Racing Santander 4-1 Tuesday.
Their rivalry is exciting fans and the Spanish press alike.
"CR9-Messi, the duel of la Liga," said the sports daily Marca, anticipating a 'mano a mano' contest throughout the season alongside the battle between 'new Galacticos' of the big-spending Real and the Spanish and European champions Barcelona for the league title.
Ronaldo, 24, fast and powerful, was the winner of the Golden Ball award for 2008. The impish Messi, 22, sharp and agile, is the favorite to pick the World Player of the Year award for 2009.
Ronaldo, transfered from Manchester United for a world record 94 million euros, is desperate to make an impression at the club where he always dreamt of playing when he was a child kicking a ball around in the streets of the Portuguese island of Madeira.
The superstars of Real Madrid and Barcelona have scored five goals each in four matches played so far, leaving their clubs atop the Primera Liga.
"I only want to win, not to be the 'pichichi' (top scorer)" of La Liga, claimed Ronaldo, known as 'CR9', after scoring a great solo goal in the first minute of Real's 2-0 defeat of Villareal Wednesday.
"I'm lucky to play alongside teammates who play very well," said Messi, after two spectacular goals that helped European champions Barcelona crush Racing Santander 4-1 Tuesday.
Their rivalry is exciting fans and the Spanish press alike.
"CR9-Messi, the duel of la Liga," said the sports daily Marca, anticipating a 'mano a mano' contest throughout the season alongside the battle between 'new Galacticos' of the big-spending Real and the Spanish and European champions Barcelona for the league title.
Ronaldo, 24, fast and powerful, was the winner of the Golden Ball award for 2008. The impish Messi, 22, sharp and agile, is the favorite to pick the World Player of the Year award for 2009.
Ronaldo, transfered from Manchester United for a world record 94 million euros, is desperate to make an impression at the club where he always dreamt of playing when he was a child kicking a ball around in the streets of the Portuguese island of Madeira.