Lionel Messi insists he "doesn't like being the centre of attention" - something long-term rival Cristiano Ronaldo has been accused of being in recent weeks.
Messi, 35, and Ronaldo, 37, will captain Argentina and Portugal respectively at the World Cup in Qatar - which starts on Sunday. Both iconic footballers are not expected to play in another World Cup and are under pressure to finally win the prestigious competition.
As such, Messi and Ronaldo can't help being at the centre of attention - yet the former has admitted he doesn't like the limelight. The latter, meanwhile, is currently dominating the pre-tournament chat following a sensational interview with Piers Morgan.
"Being Messi has its negative side, I sometimes wish I wasn't famous," Messi told Universo Valdano. "I don't like being the centre of attention or feeling that people are looking at me. But I've gotten used to it."
Many critics believe Ronaldo loves being the centre of attention after his outburst. He has accused Manchester United of trying to force him out, among other things. He's also criticised the likes of Erik ten Hag, Ralf Rangnick, Gary Neville and Wayne Rooney.
Ronaldo's bombshell interview with Morgan comes just weeks after he refused to come on in a Premier League game against Tottenham. He stormed down the tunnel in the 89th minute and left Old Trafford before the end of the 2-0 win.
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United's impressive performance should've dominated the headlines, but Ronaldo did instead. The timing of his interview with Morgan has also been questioned, as the first quotes were released just hours after United's 2-1 victory against Fulham on Sunday.
"This guy is getting drunk on his own recognisability and he’ll end up in the bloody jungle with Matt Hancock in a years’ time if he carries on in this way," former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan told talkSPORT.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, former Premier League striker Glenn Murray said: "Manchester United knew when they brought him in he had a huge ego to go with his quality. This was always going to happen. He was never going to react well to his demise.
"It's clear everyone wants him out of the club. That's what he wanted with the interview. It was very self-indulgent. There's no way back for him now."
Ronaldo has tried to calm the reaction to his interview by insisting he wants to focus on the World Cup. "Total and absolute focus on national team work," he wrote on Instagram. "United group, towards one objective: realise the dream of all Portuguese people."
But United will be bracing themselves for more bombshells when the full interview is released on Wednesday and Thursday. "The club will consider its response after the full facts have been established," insisted the Premier League club on Monday.
