But Pique, who played alongside Messi at Barcelona and Ronaldo at Manchester United, insists the Argentine superstar never paid much attention to how his rival was getting on.

Gerard Pique, former Spain defender, has emphasized that Lionel Messi was never “obsessed” with Cristiano Ronaldo during the prime years of their Ballon d’Or-winning rivalry.

Messi has won the award eight times compared to five for Ronaldo.

But Pique, who played alongside Messi at Barcelona and Ronaldo at Manchester United, insists the Argentine superstar never paid much attention to how his rival was getting on.

Pique told talkSPORT: “He wasn’t that type of guy. He was very team-focused, although he was getting all the first page in all the newspapers and radios and TV.

“At the end of the day, he was very close with all of us and he was just focused on winning titles like the Champions League and these kinds of things. At the end of the day because he was the best.

“Then he was winning the Ballon d’Or but it wasn’t something that was a priority for him.”