AITJ for dumping a girl because of a friend?

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I am 25 years old, I have a friend with whom we have been friends literally since childhood. We grew up next door. Together we went to school, then entered the 1st university. We were always called thick as thieves (inseparable). We went through a lot of things together and always supported each other.

A few years ago we both fell in love. The story would have been ordinary, if not for 1 detail: we fell in love with the 1 and same girl.

At first, we didn't even suspect it. We enthusiastically told each other about the girl we liked. Joked that someday we would introduce our girlfriends and be friends as families. But gradually I began to notice coincidences in the stories. We described the same character traits, the same places where we saw her, the same hobbies.

I thought it was just a coincidence. We have similar tastes, so nothing strange. Everything became clear when 1 day I accidentally saw them together.

Then I realized that we had been talking about the 1 and same person all the time. I was not in a relationship with her and didn't even have time to ask her out. We had been communicating not so long ago. But my feelings were serious. When I told my friend that I was also communicating with her, he got very angry. He accused me of trying to steal his girl, although at that moment they were also not a couple.

What offended me the most was that he acted as if he had some kind of right. He started telling me to stay away from her. Once even bluntly stated that if she chooses me, then our friendship is over.

I thought about the situation for a long time: on the 1 hand, I really liked this girl. On the other hand, I didn't want to lose the person who had been my friend for almost my whole life.

In the end, I decided to step away. I stopped actively communicating with her and didn't interfere. It seemed to me that although she herself should choose who she wants to be with, I didn't want to turn this into a competition between us.

Time passed and they became a couple.

Now they are still together. I don't know if I had real chances. Maybe she would have chosen him anyway. Maybe not. This I will never know.

I saved the friendship and they built their relationship. But sometimes I think, didn't I betray myself? Didn't I give up my own chance just because I was afraid of losing a friend?

AITJ for letting go and allowing the situation to be resolved this way? Should I have fought for the girl I liked no less than he did?