Cristiano Ronaldo sees his rivalry with Lionel Messi as a positive and sees nothing wrong with being compared to the Barcelona attacker.
The Clasico rivals have been pitted as opposing world-class forces within Spanish and European football for over half a decade.
Ronaldo has got the better of Messi so far in 2014, having won the Champions League, Copa del Rey and Uefa Super Cup with Real Madrid as well as individual accolades with the Ballon d'Or and the Golden Boot.
"This is part of my life," Ronaldo told World Soccer when asked what his thoughts on the rivalry with Messi are. "It is normal that people compare us. I am used to it. It happened to me at Manchester United and I know how to manage it.
"We are football colleagues. Outside of football I have no relationship with Messi, but not with other players either. It is a positive rivalry."
The 29-year-old, who shared the Golden Boot with then-Liverpool forward Luis Suarez (now also a Barca player) after scoring 31 goals in La Liga, suggests the last 12 months might just have been the best of his career prize-wise but does not believe his own ability has shot up significantly.
"Individual prizes are the result of having achieved collective objectives," Ronaldo added. "We had a fantastic season. We won the Champions League, the Copa del Rey and the Uefa Super Cup.
"A trophy like the Golden Boot is the prize for playing well as a team. I will not lie. I really wanted to win it.
"Maybe it has been the best for collective or individual prizes. But I have been at the same level for the last six or seven years."
Ronaldo will find out who he is up against as he bids to retain the Ballon d'Or he took from Messi in January on October 28. The duo will next come up against each other three days earlier when the Santiago Bernabeu plays host to Luis Enrique's men.
FOX Soccer and Goal.com have teamed up to bring you the best in world soccer coverage. Visit Goal.com, and follow them on Twitter and Facebook.
More from Goal.com:
Live transfer blog: Latest news from summer window
The summer's most expensive transfers
Transfer talk: 24/7 source for the latest rumors
