Club World Cup Rival Delivers Bold Taunt to Lionel Messi About Cristiano Ronaldo

Palmeiras defender Murilo Cerqueira, who openly admires Cristiano Ronaldo, has made it clear that Lionel Messi won't receive any preferential treatment when they face off.

The Brazilian side will clash with Inter Miami in their concluding Club World Cup group match at Hard Rock Stadium this Monday night. Following their surprising triumph over Porto in their previous encounter—sealed by a magnificent Messi free-kick—Miami only needs to prevent a loss to secure their spot in the knockout rounds. The Herons might even advance if they suffer defeat while Porto fails to overcome Al Ahly.

Even as he nears his 38th birthday, Messi continues to be a crucial component of Miami's tactical framework. The legendary goal-scorer tops the team's statistics in shots taken, opportunities created, and successful dribbles.

Neutralizing Messi essentially silences Miami's attack, and Murilo is eagerly anticipating his opportunity to face the seasoned superstar. When questioned about potentially exchanging jerseys with his South American counterpart, the Brazilian central defender dismissed the idea: "I won't be getting caught up in that.

"There will already be plenty of others requesting it. That's fine by me. My sole focus is on defending against him."

The conversation shifted to his pick for football's greatest ever player, and Murilo responded without hesitation. "I support Ronaldo," he declared to the gathered media. "I believe he's an exceptionally well-rounded athlete. Even his mentality is admirable, which I see as beneficial. What distinguishes him most is his dedication. I genuinely attempt to mirror that—his commitment, his regimen. I have tremendous respect for him."

When persistent reporters inquired whether Murilo would execute Ronaldo's iconic "siu" celebration if he finds the net against Miami, he responded with a smile: "Absolutely," he beamed. "Definitely, I'll perform it."