Barcelona ace Lionel Messi insists he doesn't see Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo as his nemesis.

The battle between Messi and Ronaldo to be named the best player on the planet continues as a long-running sideshow, but Messi insists there is nothing personal in it as far as he is concerned.

"I respect him, but I have no relationship with him, as I don't with a lot of other footballers," he told Marca.

"I have relationships with my Barcelona club-mates, and with the international squad, Argentinian players who I've got to know well over the years.

"There's never been any kind of anger toward Cristiano.

"It's all made up by the press who want to believe there's a constant duel between the two of us, but I don't compete with Cristiano, nor does he with me."