During his three-year stint with Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus, Argentine footballer Paulo Dybala once admitted to the Portuguese star that he “hated him as a kid” due to his Argentine roots.
Despite sharing the dressing room and celebrating two Serie A titles and several domestic cups together, Dybala’s loyalties in the debate of the greatest footballer of all time (GOAT) lie firmly with his fellow Argentine, Lionel Messi.
In an interview with Diletta Leotta on DAZN’s ‘Scacco Capitale,’ Dybala spoke about his relationship with Ronaldo and how he joked with him about their childhood rivalry.
Dybala shared, “It was three good years with Cristiano, the team was strong and he gave us something extra.
The rivalry between him and [Lionel] Messi is deeply felt in Argentina, and as a child, of course, I was always on Messi’s side.”
Recalling the humorous exchange with Ronaldo on a team flight, Dybala continued, “One time we were on a plane to go play a game, I was at the back, and he was sitting further forward.
At one point, he came to me to talk about football and other things. We used to discuss our lives in general, and so I said to him, ‘I basically hated you as a kid.’ We had some laughs. We’ve always had a good relationship, a good dialogue.”
Dybala also shared his admiration for Messi, calling him the best player in the world. “Messi is an alien; he’s a player who’s impossible to compare with anyone else. I’m proud to be able to play with him for the national team. He’s the best in the world,” Dybala said.
Despite his support for Messi, Dybala acknowledged Ronaldo’s greatness on the field and the positive impact he had on Juventus.
“He’s a great professional, and he gave us so much on the field. He’s won so many things, and he’s always been a positive influence in the locker room,” Dybala added.