Despite Lionel Messi claiming his 8th Ballon d’Or award on October 30, 2023, the debate over the greatest footballer of this generation continues to rage on.
There are many who feel that Cristiano Ronaldo has finally been silenced with Messi winning the 2023 Ballon d’Or.
However, Ronaldo and his camp still have much to brag about, as there are still some feats of the Portuguese that Lionel Messi hasn’t matched.
Records Lionel Messi may never break
Cristiano Ronaldo currently leads the way for the most goals scored in football history, with 862 career goals to Messi’s 821 goals.
The former Manchester United forward also has his name penned at the summit of the all-time top-scoring list in the UEFA Champions League with 140 career goals.
For Lionel Messi, he has scored 129 goals in the UEFA Champions League, but his tally is 11 goals shy of that of Ronaldo.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s attacking dominance has also been evident in the international scene, as he is also the all-time goalscorer in men’s international football.
The 38-year-old has scored 127 goals in 203 appearances for the men’s national team of Portugal.
Age-long rival Lionel Messi has scored 106 goals in 178 matches for the national team of Argentina.
Lionel Messi’s Champions League trophies in comparison to that of Cristiano Ronaldo
The debate over the amount of UEFA Champions League trophies Messi has won has over time been a topical issue, with some sources claiming that the Argentine has won 4, while others claiming 3.
However, he was part of the Barcelona squad that won the 2005/06 UEFA Champions League final, but he was not included in the squad that played the final against Arsenal.
The official website of the UEFA Champions League also stated clearly that “Messi has won the Champions League three times – in 2009, 2011, and 2015”.
In that case, it can be said that Lionel Messi has won 3 Champions League titles, while rival Cristiano Ronaldo has won 5 titles in his career.
Both players have experienced stellar careers and they are in the twilight of it. Messi currently plays in Major League Soccer for Inter Miami, while Cristiano Ronaldo plays for Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr.
Despite ageing, they continue to eschew magical performances for their respective clubs.
Ronaldo has been producing show-stopping performances that have continued to leave many spellbound, and likewise Lionel Messi in America.
Only time indeed will tell if Messi can be able to match those feats of Cristiano Ronaldo, but it is looking nearly unlikely, given his age, and likelihood of retirement.
However, you can’t be too sure with regard to Lionel Messi, as the entire world saw him eschew magic at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, even when the odds were against him and Argentina.
The 36-year-old galvanized Le Albiceleste to success at the tournament, and that was a deciding factor in him winning the 2023 Ballon d’Or award.
