The stage is set Thursday for Lionel Messi vs. Cristiano Ronaldo when Messi's Paris Saint-Germain takes on a combined XI of Saudi Arabian teams Al Nassr and Al Hilal in an exhibition match.

Ronaldo is one of the most prolific scorers in the sport’s history, with over 650 goals for both club and country, including 120 alone in the UEFA Champions League, more than any other player.

The Messi-Ronaldo rivalry has been among the greatest ever. Between them they have 12 Ballon d’Or awards – Messi a record seven, Ronaldo five – and have won a combined 56 major trophies.

But while Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have shared the same football stage for years, one thing they don’t share is friendship — and now, Messi has explained why.

Messi is a week past his 31st birthday and Ronaldo 33, former phenoms unlikely to reach Qatar 2022 or retain their exceptional skill if they manage to hang on. Title remains elusive For both ...

Both Messi and Ronaldo's high-end cards remain some of the most hotly-chased in The Hobby. Over the last year, Card Ladder registers 177 Messi sales of $10,000 or more.