'Lionel Messi should reconsider his invitation to have dinner with Cristiano Ronaldo'

Patrice Evra has humorously suggested that Lionel Messi might want to keep dodging the dinner date Cristiano Ronaldo proposed, joking how it would be like another “training session”. Back in 2019, Ronaldo said he’d be keen to dine with his perennial rival, Messi, while sitting beside him during a memorable moment during the Champions League draw.

The concept of a shared meal followed an interview with TNT, where Ronaldo spoke about their unique and extended rivalry. Messi responded in Spanish when they were asked about missing their head-to-head clashes.

Ronaldo’s words were: “I was curious because we shared the stage for 15 years, me and him, I don’t know if it’s ever happened in football, the same two guys in the same stage all the time. So it is not easy, and of course we have a good relationship. We’ve not had dinner together yet but I hope in the future [it will happen].”

Messi later communicated his openness to accept such a proposal to SPORT, echoing Ronaldo’s sentiment and confirming: “Yes, I don’t have any problem with that.”

Continuing, the Barcelona legend said: “I’ve always said that I don’t have any issue with him. We might not be friends because we’ve never shared a dressing room together, but I always see him at award shows and there’s no problem. We actually spoke with each other for quite a long time at the most recent show.

“I don’t know if there will be a dinner because I don’t know if our paths will cross for obvious reasons, each one of us has our own life and our own commitments. But obviously I would accept the invitation.”

Five years have now passed, and a story from a year before this famous clip has resurfaced, where Evra discusses his meal time with the Real Madrid icon. The former Manchester United defender, who played alongside Ronaldo at Old Trafford, previously told an amusing tale about his encounter with the Portuguese star at his home, where Ronaldo invited him over for a meal and a work-out.

During the 2018 World Cup, Evra was part of ITV’s punditry team, and revealed that his private time with the now-39-year-old wasn’t what he was expecting. “I will give advice to anybody – when Cristiano invites you for lunch, just say no,” the Frenchman warned, with a chuckle. “Not because of the food, but it feels like a training session over there.”

The former left-back then detailed his visit to Ronaldo’s home and how he expected a relaxing meal, but instead found a bland spread of unseasoned chicken, salad and water, followed by an intense post-lunch workout. “He asked me to come after training, I was really tired, but at the table was just salad and plain white chicken, just water, no juice,” he said.

“We started eating and I thought some big meat was coming after that, but nothing. He just finishes and starts playing with the ball. I’ve just finished eating but we start playing two-touch, then he wants to go to the pool to swim, afterwards some jacuzzi, sauna.

“Then I say why are we here? Do we have a game tomorrow? That is why I recommend to anybody, when Cristiano asks you for lunch to his house, just say no, don’t go.”

Evra added: “He is a machine, never wants to stop training. Being serious, he deserves everything he has as he has worked so hard.”

“He was playing table-tennis with Rio Ferdinand and Rio beat him and we were all screaming. Ronaldo was so upset. So he sent his cousin to be a table tennis table and was training for two weeks at home, and he came back and beat Rio in front of everyone. That’s Cristiano Ronaldo, and that’s why I am not surprised that he wants to win another Ballon D’Or, win the World Cup. Because he is an angry man.”