How important is emotional intelligence in a close friendship?

I’m 32m, and have a close friend who is 32m too. We spend a lot of time together and are very close / comfortable with each other. However, we also have quite a lot of differences, especially in communication style.

I generally like talking about life, emotions, and also enjoy listening to other people’s perspective and giving my own. He however, tends to talking about himself a lot more and doesn’t seem to ask questions back or doesn’t really seem to have interest in listening to my perspective.

Sometimes it feels like I’m just a dumping ground for him to rant or talk about his life but I don’t feel the same patience or interest is extended to me.

He doesn’t have any bad intention and he isn’t doing this intentionally I’m sure, but he is just more self centered. The question really is, I shouldn’t give up on this friendship because I feel unsupported should I? How important is it that someone in a friendship has high eq? I’m sure there are people who are like this too and doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t have friends too