Lionel Messi has insisted that he would "accept the invitation" of having dinner with Cristiano Ronaldo should the scenario arise in the future.

While speaking at the draw for the group stages of the 2019-20 Champions League last month, Ronaldo revealed that he 'hoped' to have dinner with Messi when discussing their relationship.

Widely regarded as two of the best players in the history of the sport, Messi and Ronaldo have dominated the Ballon d'Or award since 2008.

The Barcelona captain has revealed that he would be more than happy to have a personal meeting with the Juventus forward if their paths were cross in the future.

A rivalry between the two players has been built up over the last decade, but the Argentina international has once again insisted that there has never been an issue.

"Yes, I don't have any problem with [having dinner with Ronaldo]," Messi told Sport. "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."

Messi - yet to play this season due to a calf problem - has scored 603 goals in 687 appearances for Barca in all competitions, in addition to netting 68 times in 136 outings for Argentina.

Ronaldo, meanwhile, has struck 602 club goals for Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juve, and 93 in 160 appearances for Portugal, making him the second-highest international goalscorer of all time behind former Iran forward Ali Daei.