Lionel Messi vs. Cristiano Ronaldo: how they compare on goals, stats and World Cup records
Stars continue to break records even as they enter the twilight of their careers
“During the peak of their playing days, there was a genuine and heated debate” over who was the better footballer: Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, said US magazine The Sporting News. But with his performance at the 2026 World Cup, with both men now entering the twilight of their careers, Messi “has established himself as the undisputed greatest”.
While shining in club football, Portugal’s Ronaldo has always “struggled mightily” to replicate that brilliance at World Cups, including the most recent. Meanwhile, Messi has captained Argentina to three finals and one victory, along the way racking up the second most goals and the most assists of any player in World Cup history.
Messi lost out on this year’s Golden Boot title, which went to Kylian Mbappé after his two goals in France’s 6-4 defeat to England in the third-place play-off took his tournament tally to 10. Messi, who had previously been neck-and-neck with the French striker, failed to shift the needle in the final against Spain on Sunday.
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Ronaldo fans can take comfort in the fact that he retains an edge over Messi “at least in one specific aspect of the debate”, said NDTV. Of the two men, scoring against Spain at the World Cup is a “frontier only Cristiano Ronaldo has conquered”, with his hat-trick against La Roja in the group stage of the 2018 World Cup. “On the grandest stage” of international football, “Spain remains an unsolved puzzle for Lionel Messi”.
Having secured countless trophies and a host of personal records over their two decades of brilliance on the pitch, 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
Lionel Messi spent the first 21 years of his career with FC Barcelona – where he won Spain’s La Liga title 10 times and the Uefa Champions League four times – before joining Paris Saint-Germain in 2021. After two seasons in France with Paris Saint-Germain, he signed for MLS team Inter Miami in 2023.
The Argentine didn’t have “any problem adjusting to life” in Miami, scoring nine goals in his first six games, said Fox Sports. Under his captaincy, the team won the 2023 MLS Leagues Cup, before becoming MLS league champions for the first time in 2025. Messi himself was named league MVP in 2024 and 2025, the first player to win the award in consecutive years.
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Internationally, Messi has made 207 appearances for Argentina, leading his country to victory in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, in which he scored seven goals, including two in the final against France. He has also captained the side to Copa América wins in 2021 and 2024.
Messi holds the record for the most Ballons d’Or awards – eight – and is the only player in history to have won the World Cup Golden Ball twice (2014 and 2022).
- Full name: Lionel Andrés Messi
- Nationality: Argentine
- Age: 39
- Born: 24 June 1987
- Clubs: Inter Miami (2023-present); Paris Saint-Germain (2021-2023); Barcelona (2004-2021)
- Ballon d’Or wins: 8 (2023, 2021, 2019, 2015, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009)
- The Best Fifa Men’s Player: 3 (2023, 2022, 2019)
- Champions League winners’ medals: 4 (2014-15, 2010-11, 2008-09, 2005-06)
- Laureus World Sportsman of the Year awards: 2 (2023; 2020 joint winner with Lewis Hamilton)
- Captained Argentina in their 2021 and 2024 Copa America win
- Captained Argentina in their 2022 Fifa World Cup win
- 125 goals in 207 international games (both national records)
Player profile: Cristiano Ronaldo
Al-Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo
Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo 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 41-year-old’s trophy collection includes five Champions League winners’ medals, plus league titles in England, Spain and Italy. In the 2026 tournament, he became the first male player to score in six different Fifa World Cups. Ronaldo was also the first player to score at five separate European Championships.
Five times a Ballon d’Or winner, he has scored more than 970 goals for club and country, is the top goalscorer in men’s international football with 146 goals for Portugal and holds the record for most international appearances (233), having made his debut way back in 2003. 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).
In 2023, Ronaldo scored 54 goals for Al-Nassr and Portugal, making him the top global goal-scorer, according to the International Football History & Statistics. In 2024, he broke the Saudi Pro League record for most goals scored in a single season (35), and in 2026 he led Al-Nassr to the league title for the first time since 2019.
- Full name: Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro
- Nationality: Portuguese
- Age: 41
- 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)
- Ballon d’Or wins: 5 (2017, 2016, 2014, 2013, 2008)
- The Best Fifa Men's Player: 2 (2017 and 2016)
- Champions League winners’ medals – 5: 2017-18, 2016-17, 2015-16, 2013-14 with Real Madrid; 2007–08 with Man Utd
- Captained Portugal in their Euro 2016 win
- All-time top goalscorer in men’s international football (146)
- All-time record men’s international appearances (233)
- Top goalscorer in the Uefa Champions League (140)
- First player to score in six different Fifa World Cups
All-time goals, career statistics and red cards
All-time goals, career statistics and red cards
According to messivsronaldo.app
- Ronaldo: 976 goals and 261 assists in 1,330 appearances
- Messi: 919 goals and 418 assists in 1,164 appearances
- Hat-tricks: Ronaldo 66; Messi 61
- Career goal ratio: Ronaldo 0.73; Messi 0.79
- Penalties: Ronaldo 184; Messi 114
All-time club careers (excluding friendlies)
- Ronaldo: 830 goals and 224 assists in 1,097 appearances
- Messi: 794 goals and 353 assists in 957 appearances
- Hat tricks: Ronaldo 56; Messi 50
- Club goal ratio: Ronaldo 0.76; Messi 0.83
- Penalties: Ronaldo 161; Messi 89
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 14 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.” Ronaldo’s most recent early bath was in November 2025, when he was sent off during a Portugal World Cup qualifier against the Republic of Ireland – the first red card of his senior international career.
International football
International careers (friendly and competitive matches)
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo
Argentina star Messi has scored 125 goals in 205 international appearances – both all-time records for his nation. With 146 goals in 233 games for Portugal, Ronaldo holds both the all-time men's records for international appearances and goals.
- Ronaldo for Portugal: 146 goals and 37 assists in 233 appearances
- Messi for Argentina: 125 goals and 65 assists in 207 appearances
- Hat-tricks: Ronaldo 10; Messi 11
- International goal ratio: Ronaldo 0.63; Messi 0.60
- Penalties: Ronaldo 23; Messi 25
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)
- Euro 2020: five goals (top scorer)
- Euro 2024: none
Messi's Copa América finals record
- Tournaments: 2024, 2021, 2019, 2016, 2015, 2011, 2007
- All-time finals record: 14 goals in 39 matches
- 2007 Copa América: two goals
- 2011 Copa América: zero goals
- 2015 Copa América: one goal
- 2016 Copa América Centenario: five goals
- 2019 Copa América: one goal
- 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
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
- MLS Supporters' Shield: 1
- MLS 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: 207
- Argentina all-time top goalscorer: 125 goals
- Record number of World Cup appearances: 34
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
- Saudi Pro League titles: 1
Ronaldo international honours with Portugal
- Uefa European Championship titles: 1 (2016)
- Uefa Nations League titles: 2 (2019), (2025)
- All-time leading scorer in men's international football (146 goals)
- All-time men's international appearances (233)
- 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
Ronaldo vs. Messi: Ballon d’Or wins
- Ronaldo – 5 wins: 2017, 2016, 2014, 2013, 2008
- Messi – 8 wins: 2023, 2021, 2019, 2015, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009
Messi’s European Golden Shoe awards
- 2009-10: 34 goals
- 2011-12: 50 goals
- 2012-13: 46 goals
- 2016-17: 37 goals
- 2017-18: 34 goals
- 2018-19: 36 goals
Ronaldo’s European Golden Shoe awards
- 2007-08: 31 goals
- 2010-11: 40 goals
- 2013-14: 31 goals (shared with Luis Suarez)
- 2014-15: 48 goals
Hat-tricks
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrating a goal for Manchester United
The rate at which the duo score hat-tricks is “scarcely believable”, said the MessivsRonaldo.app, with a “staggering” 127 between them. Ronaldo leads the head-to-head 66-61.
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.
Messi’s 60th career hat-trick came on the final day of the 2025 MLS regular season. He scored his most recent hat-trick for Argentina in the opening game of the 2026 World Cup against Algeria.
Fifa World Cup
Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup in Qatar
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.
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.
Ronaldo has confirmed that the 2026 tournament will be his last World Cup, Messi has indicated that he plans to play at the 2030 competition, when he will be 43 years old.
Here we take a look at their World Cup stats, according to MessivsRonaldo.app:
Messi’s World Cup stats
- Games: 34
- Goals: 21
- Assists: 12
- Minutes played: 3,053
Messi's World Cup tournament goals: 21
- 2026: 8
- 2022: 7
- 2018: 1
- 2014: 4
- 2010: 0
- 2006: 1
- Hat-tricks: 1 – against Algeria in 2026
Ronaldo's World Cup stats
- Games: 27
- Goals: 11
- Assists: 2
- Minutes played: 2,203
- Hat-tricks: 1 – against Spain in 2018
Ronaldo's World Cup tournament goals: 11
- 2026: 3
- 2022: 1
- 2018: 4
- 2014: 1
- 2010: 1
- 2006: 1
Uefa Champions League
Ronaldo vs. Messi in European football
Statistics according to Uefa.com:
- 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
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi last shared a football pitch at an exhibition game between a Riyadh All-Star XI and Paris Saint-Germain on 19 January 2023. Ronaldo scored twice in what was his first match in Saudi Arabia, while Messi scored once for PSG, who won 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 had lifted the World Cup in neighbouring Qatar just a month before.
What people say about Messi
Argentina captain Lionel Messi at the World Cup in Qatar
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.”
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
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.”
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.