The debate over Lionel Messi vs. Cristiano Ronaldo has divided football fans, pundits and players for nearly two decades – and shows no sign of abating even as the pair enter the twilight of their careers.
There are those who "admire the magical technical skills and artistry of Messi," said the Daily Express, and "others who are in awe of the goal-scoring machine and athletic force that is Ronaldo".
"This polarising discussion has been known to strain even the strongest of bonds among fans."With Messi now plying his trade in the US at Major League Soccer franchise Inter Miami and Ronaldo playing for Saudi Arabian team Al Nassr, the time when both players were dominating the highest levels of club football may have passed – but both continue to set records.
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In the summer, Messi clinched his 45th career trophy, surpassing the record set by Brazilian Dani Alves, as he captained Argentina to Copa America glory. It was his third consecutive major international tournament win, adding to the 2022 World Cup and the 2021 Copa America.
Not to be outdone, in September, Ronaldo became the first player to score 900 top-tier career goals when he doubled Portugal's lead over Croatia last week.
With countless trophies and a host of personal records, Messi and Ronaldo have a very special rivalry. We take a look at their profiles and all-time career statistics.
Player profile: Lionel Messi
Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi
(Image credit: Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Lionel Messi spent the first 21 years of his career with FC Barcelona – where he won Spain’s La Liga title ten times and the Uefa Champions League four times – before joining Paris Saint-Germain in 2021. After two seasons in France, he signed for MLS team Inter Miami.
The Argentine “hasn’t had any problem adjusting to life” in Miami, said Fox Sports. As well as being among the goals he also helped the club win the 2023 MLS Leagues Cup after they beat Nashville SC on penalties in the final.
After leading Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar in 2022 Messi was named the men’s player of the year at the 2022 Best Fifa Awards. The forward has won the Fifa award three times and is also a record eight-time Ballon d’Or winner following his triumph in 2023.
At Qatar 2022 Messi scored seven goals, including two in the final against France. He played his 1,000th career match as Argentina beat Australia in the round of 16.
Argentina also won the 2021 Copa América with Messi the top goalscorer in the competition. After winning a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Copa América triumph in 2021 was his first in senior international football. South American champions Argentina won the 2022 "Finalissima", 3-0 against European champions Italy, with captain Messi named man-of-the-match at Wembley Stadium.
He lifted his third consecutive major international tournament trophy this summer, after captaining Argentina to their second successive Copa America.
Messi is the only player in history to win the World Cup Golden Ball twice (2014 and 2022).
Full name: Lionel Andrés Messi
Nationality: Argentine
Age: 37
Born: 24 June 1987
Clubs: Inter Miami (2023-present); Paris Saint-Germain (2021-2023); Barcelona (2004-2021)
Champions League winners’ medals – 4: 2014-15, 2010-11, 2008-09, 2005-06 (all with Barcelona)
Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award: 2 (2023; 2019 joint winner with Lewis Hamilton)
Captained Argentina in their 2021 and 2024 Copa America win
Captained Argentina in their 2022 Fifa World Cup win
112 goals in 191 games (both national records)
Player profile: Cristiano Ronaldo
Al-Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo
(Image credit: Robbie Jay Barratt/AMA/Getty Images)
Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo has played his club football with Sporting Lisbon (2002-2003), Manchester United (2003-2009 and 2021-2022), Real Madrid (2009-2018), Juventus (2018-2021) and Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia (2023-present).
The 39-year-old’s trophy collection includes five Champions League winners’ medals, plus league titles in England, Spain and Italy. At Qatar 2022 he became the first male player to score in five different Fifa World Cups. Ronaldo was also the first player to score at five European Championships.
Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo, who has scored more than 900 goals for club and country, is the top goalscorer in men’s international football with 135 goals for Portugal and holds the record for most international appearances (217). He won the European Championship with Portugal in 2016 and is also the all-time top goalscorer for Real Madrid (451) and in the Champions League (141).
On 12 August 2023 Ronaldo won his first trophy in Saudi Arabia, scoring twice in Al-Nassr’s 2-1 victory over Al-Hilal in the Arab Club Champions Cup final.
Full name: Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro
Nationality: Portuguese
Age: 39
Born: 5 February 1985
Clubs: Al-Nassr (2023-present); Manchester United (2021-22 and 2003-09); Juventus (2018-21); Real Madrid (2009-18); Sporting Lisbon (2002-03)
Ronaldo: 915 goals and 256 assists in 1,254 appearances
Messi: 850 goals and 379 assists in 1,083 appearances
Hat-tricks: Ronaldo 66; Messi 59
Career goal ratio: Ronaldo 0.73; Messi 0.78
Penalties: Ronaldo 170; Messi 109
All-time club careers (excluding friendlies)
Ronaldo: 780 goals and 219 assists in 1,037 appearances
Messi: 738 goals and 321 assists in 892 appearances
Hat tricks: Ronaldo 56; Messi 49
Club goal ratio: Ronaldo 0.75; Messi 0.83
Penalties: Ronaldo 149; Messi 85
International careers (friendly and competitive matches)
Argentina star Messi has scored 112 goals in 191 international appearances – both all-time records for his nation. With 135 goals in 217 games for Portugal, Ronaldo holds both the all-time men's records for international appearances and goals.
Ronaldo for Portugal: 135 goals and 37 assists in 217 appearances
Messi for Argentina: 112 goals and 58 assists in 191 appearances
Hat-tricks: Ronaldo 10; Messi 10
International goal ratio: Ronaldo 0.62; Messi 0.59
Penalties: Ronaldo 21; Messi 24
Career red cards: Messi 3, Ronaldo 12
Messi has been sent off three times in his career – twice for Argentina and once for Barcelona. He saw red just 43 seconds into his Argentina debut after coming on as a sub against Hungary in 2005. He was also sent off against Chile in the 2019 Copa América.
Messi’s third career red card – and first at club level – came on 17 January 2021. In Barcelona’s 3-2 Spanish Super Cup final loss against Athletic Bilbao, Messi walked after VAR spotted him lashing out against Asier Villalibre.
Ronaldo has been sent off 12 times in his career – once for Al-Nassr, once for Juventus, six times for Real Madrid and four times for Manchester United. "Notably," said Goal.com, "the Portuguese has shown himself to be somewhat prone to losing his cool in derby matches."
Argentina star Messi has scored 112 goals in 191 international appearances – both all-time records for his nation. With 135 goals in 217 games for Portugal, Ronaldo holds both the all-time men's records for international appearances and goals.
International careers (friendly and competitive matches)
Ronaldo for Portugal: 135 goals and 37 assists in 217 appearances
Messi for Argentina: 112 goals and 58 assists in 191 appearances
Hat-tricks: Ronaldo 10; Messi 10
International goal ratio: Ronaldo 0.62; Messi 0.59
Penalties: Ronaldo 21; Messi 24
Ronaldo's Uefa European Championship finals record
Tournaments: 2024, 2020, 2016, 2012, 2008, 2004
All-time finals record: 14 goals in 30 matches
Euro 2004: two goals
Euro 2008: one goal
Euro 2012: three goals
Euro 2016: three goals (Portugal won the tournament)
2021 Copa América: four goals (Argentina won the tournament)
2024 Copa América: one goal
Trophies and awards
The duo have won 13 Ballon d’Or awards between them
(Image credit: Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images)
Messi club honours
Clubs: Inter Miami (2023-present); Paris Saint-Germain (2021-2023); Barcelona (2004-2021)
Spanish La Liga titles: 10
Spanish Copa del Rey: 7
Spanish Supercup: 8
Uefa Champions League: 4
Uefa Super Cup: 3
Fifa Club World Cup: 3
French Ligue 1 titles: 2
MLS Leagues Cup: 1
Messi international honours with Argentina
Fifa World Cup: 1 (2022)
Finalissima: 1 (2022)
2021 and 2024 Copa América winner and Golden Boot winner
Fifa Under-20 World Cup: 1 (2005)
Olympic Gold Medal: 1 (2008)
Record number of appearances for Argentina: 191
Argentina all-time top goalscorer: 112 goals
Record number of World Cup appearances: 26
Ronaldo club honours
Clubs: Al-Nassr (2023-present); Manchester United (2021-2022 and 2003-2009); Juventus (2018-2021); Real Madrid (2009-2018); Sporting Lisbon (2002-2003)
English Premier League titles: 3
English FA Cup: 1
English Football League Cup: 2
Spanish La Liga titles: 2
Spanish Copa del Rey: 2
Spanish Supercup: 2
Uefa Champions League: 5 (four with Real Madrid, one with Man Utd)
Uefa Super Cup: 3
Fifa Club World Cup: 4 (three with Real Madrid, one with Man Utd)
Portugal Super Cup: 1
Italian Supercoppa: 2
Italian Serie A titles: 2
Arab Club Champions Cup: 1
Ronaldo international honours with Portugal
Uefa European Championship titles: 1 (2016)
Uefa Nations League titles: 1 (2019)
All-time leading scorer in men's international football (135 goals)
All-time men's international appearances (217)
All-time leading scorer in European Championship history (14 goals in 27 tournament matches)
Euro 2020 Golden Boot winner
Record number of European Championship tournaments: 6
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrating a goal for Manchester United
(Image credit: Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
The rate at which the duo score hat-tricks is "scarcely believable", said the MessivsRonaldo.app, with a "staggering" 125 between them. Ronaldo leads the head-to-head 66-59, but Messi has a "slight edge" in frequency.
Of Ronaldo's 66 career hat-tricks, he scored 44 for Real Madrid, three for Manchester United, three for Juventus, and is currently on 10 for Portugal and six for Al-Nassr – the most recent coming last September when Al-Nassr thrashed Al-Wehda 6-0 in the Saudi Pro League.
The latest of Messi's 59 career hat-tricks was for Argentina in the 6-0 World Cup qualifying win over Bolivia in October, brining his total number of international hat-tricks to ten.
Fifa World Cup
Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup in Qatar
(Image credit: Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
It was the perfect end to Lionel Messi’s World Cup story. At Qatar 2022, the Argentina captain’s fifth and final World Cup, he achieved his lifelong dream of lifting the trophy for his country.
With two goals in the epic final against France, and a penalty in the shoot-out, Messi inspired Argentina to an unforgettable victory at the Lusail Stadium. He was also awarded the Golden Ball for the tournament's best player and only missed out on the Golden Boot after Kylian Mbappé's brilliant hat-trick saw the French striker finish with eight goals. Messi scored seven goals and also provided three assists in Qatar, and he moved above Brazil legend Pele on the World Cup all-time goalscorer list.
Messi’s brilliant tournament saw him break a host of records. He is now Argentina’s all-time highest goalscorer in World Cups with 13 goals. And he also has the highest number of appearances in men’s World Cup history, with 26.
Messi “not only emulated the deity of Argentinian football”, Diego Maradona, but he “finally plugged the burning gap on his CV”, winning the “one title that has eluded him”, said David Hytner in The Guardian. “In the process he gilded his claim to being recognised as the greatest player of them all.”
Cristiano Ronaldo also made history at Qatar 2022 as Portugal reached the quarter-finals, where they lost to Morocco 1-0. He became the first men’s player to score in five separate World Cup tournaments. His World Cup record stands at eight goals in 22 appearances.
Here we take a look at their World Cup stats, according to MessivsRonaldo.app:
Champions League goals (group stage to final): Ronaldo 140 (21 for Man Utd; 105 for Real Madrid; 14 for Juventus); Messi 129 (120 for Barcelona; 9 for PSG)
Total Uefa competition goals (Champions League and Europa League): Ronaldo 144; Messi 132
Champions League hat-tricks: Ronaldo 8; Messi 8
All-time Champions League group stage goals: Ronaldo 73; Messi 80
Did you know? Ronaldo is the only player to score in three Uefa Champions League finals, and the first to score in 11 successive Champions League matches
Champions League head-to-head
Ronaldo Champions League stats: 140 goals, 40 assists, 183 appearances
Messi Champions League stats: 129 goals, 38 assists, 169 appearances
Ronaldo Champions League winners’ medals – 5: 2007-08 (with Man Utd); 2013-14, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18 (with Real Madrid)
Messi Champions League winners’ medals – 4: 2005-06, 2008-09, 2010-11, 2014-15 (all with Barcelona)
Career hat-tricks in the Champions League: 8 each
Their last ever meeting?
Cristiano Ronaldo battles with Lionel Messi in the Riyadh friendly match
(Image credit: Aurelien Meunier/PSG/Getty Images)
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have possibly shared a football pitch for the final time in their glittering careers. In an exhibition game between a Riyadh All-Star XI and Paris Saint-Germain on 19 January 2023, Ronaldo scored twice in his first match in Saudi Arabia, while Messi scored once for PSG, who won the contest 5-4.
It was a “thrilling” match in the Saudi capital city as the “two GOATs faced off”, said Shamoon Hafez on BBC Sport. And it was “fitting” that Ronaldo’s first game in the Gulf was against his “old foe” Messi, who lifted the World Cup in neighbouring Qatar just a month before.
The star duo have “contested” El Clasico, “fought it out” in the Champions League, “squared off” in the colours of their country, and “together they have reached such magnificent heights”, said Riath Al-Samarrai in the Daily Mail. Messi’s “still on top of the world” and Ronaldo “has got his payday”, but against “a backdrop of Saudi sportswashing”, the end of this “once-great rivalry” is certainly “tinged with sadness”.
What people say about Messi
Argentina captain Lionel Messi at the World Cup in Qatar
(Image credit: Anthony Bibard/FEP/Icon Sport/Getty Images)
Cristiano Ronaldo: “I really admire the career he has had so far, and, for his part, he has already said that he had trouble when I left the Spanish league because it is a rivalry that he appreciates. It is a good rivalry that exists in football, but this is no exception. Michael Jordan had rivals in basketball, Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost were great rivals in Formula One, the only common point between all the big rivalries in the sport is that they are healthy.”
Gigi Buffon: “When I met Messi I reached out and touched him. I needed to make sure he was human like the rest of us.”
Ronaldinho: “When I look back on my career, the most enjoyable thing was seeing the early years of Leo Messi. When he retires, football – not just Barcelona – should retire the No.10 shirt.”
Pep Guardiola: “He is the best player I have ever seen. The best thing about him is not what he does but how simple he makes everything look.He is not just the best player because he can dribble past three or four players, it is because he does it better than anyone in the world.”
Neymar: “I played with Messi, who is, for me, one of the greatest footballers of all time, and he is my idol in football.”
Diego Maradona: “I have seen the player who will inherit my place in Argentine football and his name is Messi. Messi is a genius.”
David Beckham: “He [Messi] is alone in his class as a player, it is impossible that there is another like him. He, like Cristiano Ronaldo, who is not at his level, are both above the rest.”
What people say about Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo was captain as Portugal won Euro 2016
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Lionel Messi: “(Ronaldo) is always there scoring goals in all the games and taking part in his club and national side. He has been doing that for many years and whether he is at his peak or a bit below it makes no difference.”
Brazil legend Pele, after Ronaldo reached 770 official goals: “Life is a solo flight. Each makes his own journey. And what a beautiful journey you are having. I admire you a lot, I love watching you play and this is no secret to anyone. Congratulations on breaking my record of goals in official matches. My only regret is not being able to give you a hug today.”
George Best: “There have been a few players described as the new George Best over the years, but this is the first time it’s been a compliment to me.”
Zinedine Zidane: “When you play with Ronaldo on your team, you are already 1-0 up.”
Gerard Pique: “The best player I have ever played against has to be Ronaldo. You cannot afford to take your eyes off him.”
Paolo Di Canio: “Messi left the pitch scratching his head, he has no emotions. I prefer Cristiano Ronaldo. ‘Do you want me to sit on the bench against Man City?’ I go back to Portugal, then I return and score a hat-trick. I prefer the human who has a soul to the alien without emotions.”
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Mike Starling is the former digital features editor at The Week. He started his career in 2001 in Gloucestershire as a sports reporter and sub-editor and has held various roles as a writer and editor at news, travel and B2B publications. He has spoken at a number of sports business conferences and also worked as a consultant creating sports travel content for tourism boards. International experience includes spells living and working in Dubai, UAE; Brisbane, Australia; and Beirut, Lebanon.
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