The rivalry between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi has been the centerpiece of modern football, with both players dominating the sport for over a decade. Here’s a detailed look at their stats across various competitions:
Early Career: Ronaldo made his professional debut for Sporting in 2002, while Messi burst onto the scene with Barcelona in 2004.
Ballon d’Or: Both players have had tremendous success in the Ballon d’Or awards. Ronaldo has won it five times (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017), while Messi has won it seven times (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021).
European Golden Shoes: Ronaldo has won the European Golden Shoe four times, while Messi has claimed it six times.
Club Career Goals and Assists: Ronaldo has scored 710 club goals and provided 225 assists in 959 appearances, while Messi has netted 707 goals and recorded 336 assists in 866 matches.
UEFA Champions League: Ronaldo leads with 140 goals in 183 appearances, while Messi has 129 goals in 162 games.
Goals in La Liga: Ronaldo scored 311 goals in 292 appearances for Real Madrid, while Messi netted 474 goals in 520 matches for Barcelona.
International Goals: Ronaldo has scored 122 goals in 198 appearances for Portugal, while Messi has netted 102 goals in 174 caps for Argentina.
FIFA World Cup: Ronaldo has eight goals and two assists in 22 matches, while Messi has 13 goals and eight assists in 26 games.
Career Goals: Ronaldo has 830 career goals in 1,156 matches, while Messi has 803 goals in 1,018 appearances.
Trophies: Messi has won 42 trophies, including ten La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey titles, and four UEFA Champions Leagues, while Ronaldo has claimed 34 titles, including five UEFA Champions Leagues and seven league titles.
Overall, while Ronaldo has scored more goals, Messi has won more trophies across various competitions for club and country.
