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By now, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have lorded over the world of football for more than a decade, and the perennial debate on who really is the greatest of all time (GOAT) never gets old. From the brightest talents to the legendary figures, it was remarkable how their path never failed to sparkle with breathtaking goals, awe-inspiring performances, and an impressive haul of individual and team awards. This article seeks to dissect their careers in a statistical, data-driven way, and use qualitative analysis to compare the careers of these two modern icons.
Cristiano Ronaldo career:
Ronaldo’s journey started on the small island of Madeira, Portugal. He commenced his career at Sporting Lisbon, which propelled him to Manchester United in 2003. From a nifty winger to a prolific forward, Ronaldo turned under Sir Alex Ferguson, and this exactly marked the beginning of his goal spree. A spell at Real Madrid, followed by Juventus, further consolidated his status as one of the greats in the game and cemented his place in football history books, with a return to Manchester United before moving to Al Nassr FC.
Lionel Messi career:
Messi’s story starts in Rosario, Argentina. He relocated to Barcelona at a small age, where he spent most of his career years dazzling the world with his dribbling, playmaking, and scoring. Until unforeseeable circumstances forced the hand, Messi was defined with a career that had been loyal to Barcelona. Late but deserving, Messi had one of his own as he went into the twilight of his career with a move in recent history to Major League Soccer with Inter Miami CF.
Messi and Ronaldo Club Goals and Assists
Messi and Ronaldo’s goal records are an epitome of brilliance. Ronaldo’s total accumulation of goals stands at 739, marginally bettering Messi’s at 715. But the average per season is where Messi is on the higher side. He has been more consistent in his scoring feats. In assists, Messi just shreds Ronaldo with the vision and creativity: he has 313 against Ronaldo’s 214.
Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi: Club goals
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Season | Lionel Messi |
| 5 | 2002-03 | – |
| 6 | 2003-04 | – |
| 9 | 2004-05 | 1 |
| 12 | 2005-06 | 8 |
| 23 | 2006-07 | 17 |
| 42 | 2007-08 | 16 |
| 26 | 2008-09 | 38 |
| 33 | 2009-10 | 47 |
| 53 | 2010-11 | 53 |
| 60 | 2011-12 | 73 |
| 55 | 2012-13 | 60 |
| 51 | 2013-14 | 41 |
| 61 | 2014-15 | 58 |
| 51 | 2015-16 | 41 |
| 42 | 2016-17 | 54 |
| 44 | 2017-18 | 45 |
| 28 | 2018-19 | 51 |
| 37 | 2019-20 | 31 |
| 36 | 2020-21 | 38 |
| 24 | 2021-22 | 11 |
| 17 | 2022-23 | 21 |
| 24 | 2023-24/2023 | 11 |
| 739 | Total | 715 |
Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi: Club assists
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Season | Lionel Messi |
| 4 | 2002-03 | 0 |
| 6 | 2003-04 | 0 |
| 8 | 2004-05 | 0 |
| 8 | 2005-06 | 3 |
| 14 | 2006-07 | 3 |
| 7 | 2007-08 | 13 |
| 9 | 2008-09 | 17 |
| 8 | 2009-10 | 11 |
| 16 | 2010-11 | 23 |
| 15 | 2011-12 | 30 |
| 12 | 2012-13 | 15 |
| 14 | 2013-14 | 14 |
| 21 | 2014-15 | 27 |
| 15 | 2015-16 | 23 |
| 11 | 2016-17 | 16 |
| 8 | 2017-18 | 18 |
| 10 | 2018-19 | 19 |
| 5 | 2019-20 | 25 |
| 5 | 2020-21 | 12 |
| 3 | 2021-22 | 14 |
| 4 | 2022-23 | 19 |
| 11 | 2023-24/2023 | 11 |
| 214 | Total | 313 |
Messi and Ronaldo Champions League Prowess
Ronaldo holds the record for the most goals scored in the Champions League (140) and also holds the record for the most appearances in the tournament (183). However, the goal per game ratio for Messi (0.79) is slightly higher than that of Ronaldo (0.77), hence bringing out his efficiency in goal for the top clubs’ competition in Europe.
Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi: Champions League stats
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Champions League stat | Lionel Messi |
| 183 | Appearances | 163 |
| 140 | Goals | 129 |
| 0.77 | Goals per game | 0.79 |
In the international front, once again, Ronaldo takes it with 128 international goals against Messi’s 106, hence showing his longevity and consistent performance away from the club. However, it is the victory of Messi in the World Cup 2022 with Argentina, which puts an added feather to the cap and balances the same with respect to international achievements.
Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi: World Cup stats
| Cristiano Ronaldo | World Cup stat | Lionel Messi |
| 22 | Appearances | 26 |
| 8 | Goals | 13 |
| 0.38 | Goals per game | 0.50 |
Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi: International stats
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Stat | Lionel Messi |
| 205 | International caps | 180 |
| 128 | International goals | 106 |
| 0.62 | Goals per game | 0.59 |
Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi: Titles
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Competition | Lionel Messi |
| 0 | World Cup | 1 |
| 1 | European Championship / Copa America | 1 |
| 1 | Nations League / Finalissima | 1 |
| 0 | Olympics | 1 |
| 7 | League titles | 12 |
| 5 | Champions League | 4 |
| 4 | Club World Cup | 3 |
| 4 | National Cups* | 7 |
| 22 | Total | 30 |
 Messi and Ronaldo Individual Awards
Further going with the struggle for individual honors and accolades between the two showcases the cut-throat competition between them. Messi has won 8 Ballon d’Ors to Ronaldo’s 5 among many other titles. This goes on to show that Messi has been the world’s best player one time more than Ronaldo.
Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi: Individual awards
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Award | Lionel Messi |
| 5 | Ballon d’Or | 8 |
| 2 | The Best FIFA Men’s Player | 3 |
| 4 | European Golden Shoe | 6 |
| 0 | World Cup Golden Ball | 2 |
| 4 | UEFA Player of the Year | 3 |
| 15 | FIFPro World XI | 17 |
| 4 | Player of the Year (league) | 6 |
Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi earnings and net worth:
The move to Al Nassr is set to increase the financial state of the Ronaldo. The club is going to pay him as high as $75 million in yearly salaries, according to reports. His earnings will move to as high as $210 million, inclusive of image rights, commercial agreements, and bonuses. Ronaldo’s ventures outside the soccer field are equally profitable. His endorsements bring in $45 million annually, while his CR7 Brands contribute an additional $3.7 million per year. Ronaldo’s net worth sums up to $600 million, with projections of even reaching a billion at the time when he retires from active football.
Top 10 richest footballers in 2024
Messi With 8 Ballon d’Or in the bag, overachieving and years full of accolades—the World Cup, the Ballon d’Or, and FIFA “The Best” trophies. His transfer to Inter Miami, a team co-owned by David Beckham, marked another milestone in his career. Messi’s earnings with Inter Miami will, however, be based on annual bonuses worth $20.4 million. The other annual earnings that he will receive, amounting to $130.4 million, will be based on an Apple TV and MLS contract worth tens of millions. With a portfolio that has for many years accrued him upwards of $30 million in earnings from endorsements, Messi’s net worth is $650 million.
Who is better Ronaldo or Messi:
From the foregoing debate, who remains the GOAT between Messi and Ronaldo in football is still a matter of subjectivity and bound to the test of time for generations. Their careers have almost run parallel, and both players have pushed each past the parameters of greatness. As each of them enters the twilight of his career, the last moments of the two legends will be something that the football world should treasure.
Individually, both players left an indelible impact on their teams, influencing much more than just numbers and building a legacy of lifting up their teammates and wowing fans around the world. It hasn’t defined as much if not equally with the ability to decide games and inspire teammates in huge moments.
Messi is a dribbler par excellence, a visionary who can finish literally with the utmost precision, therefore giving nightmares to defenders. Ronaldo, on the other hand, plays in a style that shows his athleticism, aerial ability, and pure power.
Despite huge scrutiny and comparison, both football geniuses, Messi and Ronaldo, have still appreciated each other with mutual respect in regard to talents and achievements. The rivalry has surely taken each other to higher peaks, which have benefited fans, as some of the moments created by them are simply unforgettable.
