Gerard Pique Taunts Cristiano Ronaldo as Lionel Messi Warns Barcelona Rivals

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique goaded Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo during the Blaugrana's celebrations after winning the Champions League, a triumph that saw them complete an unprecedented second treble in six years.

As reported by Ben Grounds of the MailOnline, Pique was speaking at Camp Nou after Barca's open-top bus parade: "Thanks to the staff, to the team-mates...and to Kevin Roldan: He started all this!"

This quote references Ronaldo's duet with the Colombian singer at his 30th birthday party, an event that irritated many Madrid fans because CR7 was partying in the aftermath of Los Blancos' 4-0 defeat to neighbours Atletico Madrid in February.

However, Roldan hit back on his Twitter feed, per Sport, saying: "Don't confuse knowing my name with knowing me."

A video of Pique's speech was posted on Instagram by rldesignz:

Juventus stopped Real from becoming the first team in Champions League history to retain the trophy, eliminating the Spanish capital-based side in the semi-finals.

It would have taken a momentous performance for any club to have beaten Barca in Saturday's final, especially with Luis Enrique's front three once again showing their deadliness, with both Luis Suarez and Neymar scoring during the 3-1 win.

Lionel Messi was the only so-called MSN member not to impact the scoreline, but he continued to subtly work the ball well. He recently suggested injury struggles and off-the-field problems meant 2013-14 was a "tough" year, reported by Jonny Singer of the MailOnline, but the Argentinian is now firmly looking toward the future after scoring 58 goals during Barca's treble run, per WhoScored.com.

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

In fact, the 27-year-old has warned the club's rivals that more success is coming in the not-so-distant future, reported by Singer:

"

The truth is to be here again is something incredible.

After a tough season last year that cost us a lot, to rebound and get back here again is something spectacular. We have to enjoy this, but I don't have any doubts that this group will continue to win because it has the desire and motivation to continue doing so.

"

Squawka underlined the importance of Barca's attack in the Champions League:

Many teams around Europe will now be looking at Barcelona and wondering how they can be stopped. Enrique hasn't been able to sign players since last summer because of the club's current transfer ban, meaning he's largely had to utilise the squad left to him by previous boss Gerardo Martino.

Granted, this selection is crammed with quality, but Enrique's signings before the ban—Suarez, Ivan Rakitic and Marc-Andre ter Stegen—all played a key role in the European success. It will be extremely interesting to witness this increasingly combative team evolve when the market reopens to Barca in January 2016.

Frank Augstein/Associated Press

There's something ominous about Messi's comments. With him in the side, Barcelona always stand a chance. Yet as proven in Saturday's final, he doesn't need to be the centre of attention in order for the side win.

Match-winners are packed in across the pitch, so if you stop Messi, they've always got an alternative route to success. With his "tough" season well behind him, Messi now seems focused on making sure the future is a whole lot easier.