Blatter stated, “For me, Cristiano Ronaldo is on the same level as Lionel Messi. They are two extraordinary players, with different qualities. I apologize for my statements. I never wanted to disrespect Real Madrid, any of its players or its fans. First, because Real is one of the founding members of the Club World Cup. But also because it’s the team that I follow and admire since my childhood.”
Blatter also directly addressed Cristiano Ronaldo on Twitter, saying, “Dear Cristiano Ronaldo, I apologize if you were upset by my blithe response to a private event on Friday. I didn’t mean to offend you.”
The apology comes after the public uproar caused by Blatter’s initial comments, which led to strong reactions from Real Madrid, Portugal, and Ronaldo himself.
