Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are undoubtedly two of the greatest footballers in history, having achieved numerous trophies and set various personal records.
The debate surrounding who is the greatest of all time between the duo continues to be a serious topic among football enthusiasts worldwide.
However, biases towards club and national loyalties often cloud people’s judgment on this matter, and personal preferences also influence how good a player is perceived to be.
To shed some light on this perpetual argument, futballnews has analyzed the performances of both players in a head-to-head comparison and also examined factual data fully equipped with information to nail the debate.
Now that Messi is playing for Inter Miami in MLS and Ronaldo is playing for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, let’s delve into their profiles and ultimate career statistics.
We will be examining their club goals, club assists, Champions League and World Cup performances, international appearances, titles won, and individual awards.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi club goals
It is worth mentioning that Ronaldo has scored more club goals than Messi, albeit by a narrow margin.
However, we must acknowledge that the Al-Nassr star has had the advantage of playing two additional seasons compared to his Argentine rival thus far.
Both players have remarkably surpassed the milestone of 690 club goals in their illustrious careers.
CR7 currently holds the title for most overall club goals with 734 while Messi has 715 goals.
Recently, Ronaldo slashed two superb goals and assisted another on Tuesday, October 24, to help Al-Nassr to a thrilling 4-3 win against Qatari side Al-Duhail in the AFC Champions League group stages.
Ronaldo put the Saudi club on course to reach the knockout stages and his brace was the perfect way to mark the club’s 68th birthday.
CR7’s brace on Tuesday took his goal tally for the season to 20 in 19 games in all competitions.
International appearances
When it comes to international competition, Ronaldo and Messi have fairly similar records.
However, Ronaldo boasts greater numbers due in part to having started his senior Portugal career two years earlier than Messi with Argentina.
The Portuguese has an overall appearance of 203 for his country, scoring 127 goals.
On the other hand, Messi has competed in 178 matches for Argentina, scoring a total of 106 goals.
However, Messi’s superiority over Ronaldo in terms of assists has become increasingly evident as their respective roles evolve.
The Argentine maestro has impressively created 313 assists, surpassing Ronaldo’s 209.
This disparity highlights Messi’s ability to not only score goals but also set up his teammates, a crucial factor in determining the GOAT.
World cup stats and achievements
When it comes to the World Cup, neither Ronaldo nor Messi had won the tournament until Argentina triumphed in 2022.
Messi showcased incredible performances in Qatar, scoring seven goals and providing three assists, ultimately leading his country to the coveted trophy.
Despite Ronaldo’s superior goal count and fewer appearances leading up to the Qatar World Cup, Messi managed to turn the tide and won the trophy for Argentina.
Ronaldo and Messi’s trophy collection
Messi and Ronaldo share similar collections of trophies, but when it comes to league titles, Messi takes the lead.
Messi has secured the La Liga title 10 times with Barcelona and once with PSG in Ligue 1.
On the other hand, Ronaldo has claimed seven league titles, but what sets him apart is that he has triumphed in three different countries-England, Spain, and Italy; a fact that strengthens his argument for being the greatest of all time in the eyes of some.
In terms of the Champions League, Ronaldo has the upper hand, securing the prestigious trophy 5 times while Messi won it 4 times.
Additionally, Ronaldo has achieved notable success on the international stage with the Portuguese national team, winning both the European Championship and the UEFA Nations League.
Meanwhile, in the early stages of his international career, Messi faced significant disappointment with Argentina, experiencing four unsuccessful Copa America campaigns, three of which ended in final defeats.
However, in 2021, the seventh time ballon d’Or holder finally achieved victory in the Copa, followed by triumphs in the 2022 Finalissima and the 2022 World Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo won his first trophy with Al Nassr and the club’s first-ever Arab Club Champions Cup title after scoring twice in a 2-1 extra-time win over fellow Saudi side Al Hilal.
On the other hand, Lionel Messi won his first trophy in North American soccer and won the Best Player Award as well as the Top Scorer Award after defeating the Nashville SC to win the Leagues Cup 2023.
Ballon d’Or and other Individual awards
Messi surpassed Ronaldo in the Ballon d’Or rankings after winning his sixth in 2019.
He solidified his dominance in that area by securing his seventh in 2021.
Messi, who led Argentina to victory in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, was honored as the men’s player of the year at the 2022 Best Fifa Awards.
This marked his second achievement of the prestigious Fifa award, and he further solidified his chances to claim his eighth Ballon d’Or in 2023.
Furthermore, Messi boasts an Olympic gold medal
Although Ronaldo may have a greater number of FIFA’s new ‘The Best’ awards and has been named UEFA Player of the Year more frequently, Messi has triumphed in more league Player of the Year accolades.
Additionally, it should be noted that Ronaldo has been crowned Player of the Year in England, Spain, and Italy.
With a remarkable six European Golden Shoe titles to his name, surpassing Ronaldo’s tally by two, Messi holds a slight edge over his rival.
Nevertheless, the fact that both players have been included in the FIFPro World XI on 14 occasions demonstrates the intense competition between them.
In addition, Ronaldo wins 2nd consecutive, 3rd overall Saudi Player of the Month Award.
In conclusion
The debate on who is better between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi has been a topic of discussion among football fans for over a decade.
Both players have achieved incredible success throughout their careers and have consistently been regarded as two of the greatest footballers of all time.
Ultimately, deciding who is better is subjective and often based on personal preferences.
Some may argue that Messi’s exceptional dribbling skills, close ball control, and playmaking abilities make him the superior player, while others may favor Ronaldo’s combination of physicality, goal-scoring prowess, and versatility.
It’s worth appreciating the unique qualities and achievements of both players, as they have contributed significantly to the sport.
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