Matvey Safonov says Cristiano Ronaldo has always been closer to him than Lionel Messi, and that he supported the Portugal forward throughout the rivalry between football’s two leading stars.
The Russian national team goalkeeper also acknowledged that Messi performed at the highest level at the most recent World Cup, unlike Ronaldo.
Messi is due to play his farewell match for Argentina on 6 October against Benin. Ronaldo has left the Portugal squad following a conflict with the team’s head coach, Jorge Jesus.