Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will go down in history as two of the greatest football players of all time, with 12 Ballon d'Or awards and countless records between them.
Messi spent 21 years with FC Barcelona, but has now begun a new chapter in his career by joining Paris Saint-Germain. He won the Spanish La Liga title ten times and the Uefa Champions League four times during his time at Barcelona. In 2021, he received his seventh Ballon d'Or.
Messi has a record 158 caps for Argentina, scoring 80 goals in that time. Argentina won the Copa America in 2021, with Messi scoring the most goals. Following a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Messi's Copa America victory in 2021 will be his first in senior international football.
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has played for Sporting Lisbon (2002-03), Manchester United (2003-09), Real Madrid (2009-2018), and Juventus (2018-2021). He made a sensational return to Old Trafford during the summer transfer window of 2021. His trophy cabinet includes five Champions League winners' medals, as well as league titles in England, Spain, and Italy.
Ronaldo, who has more than 800 goals for club and country, is the all-time leading goalscorer in men's international football, with 115 in 184 matches for Portugal. In 2016, he helped his country win the European Championship. He is also Real Madrid's (450) and Champions League's (450) all-time leading goalscorer (140).
Lionel Messi player profile
- Age: 34
- Born: 24 June 1987
- Clubs: Paris Saint-Germain (2021-present); Barcelona (2004-2021)
- Nationality: Argentine
- Ballon d’Or wins: 7 wins (2021, 2019, 2015, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009)
- The Best Fifa Men’s Player: 1 (2019)
- Champions League winners’ medals - 4: 2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2014–15 (all with Barcelona)
- Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award: 1 (2019, joint winner with Lewis Hamilton)
- Captained Argentina in their 2021 Copa America win
Cristiano Ronaldo player profile
- Age: 36
- Born: 5 February 1985
- Clubs: Manchester United (2021-present); Juventus (2018-2021); Real Madrid (2009-2018); Manchester United (2003-09); Sporting Lisbon (2002-03)
- Nationality: Portuguese
- Ballon d’Or wins: 5 wins (2017, 2016, 2014, 2013, 2008)
- The Best Fifa Men’s Player: 2 wins (2016 and 2017)
- Champions League winners’ medals - 5: 2007–08 with Man Utd; 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17 and 2017–18 with Real Madrid
- Captained Portugal in their Euro 2016 win
- Top goalscorer in men’s international football (115 goals)
- Top goalscorer in the Uefa Champions League (140 goals)
Goals, stats and red cards
All-time career (club and country, excluding club friendlies)
- Ronaldo: 803 goals and 229 assists in 1,100 appearances
- Messi: 758 goals and 319 assists in 952 appearances
- Hat-tricks: Ronaldo 58; Messi 55
- Career goal ratio: Ronaldo 0.73; Messi 0.80
- Penalties: Ronaldo 143 (28 missed); Messi 102 (29 missed)
Club career (excluding friendlies)
- Ronaldo: 688 goals and 198 assists in 916 appearances
- Messi: 678 goals and 272 assists in 794 appearances
- Hat-tricks: Ronaldo 48; Messi 48
- Club goal ratio: Ronaldo 0.75; Messi 0.85
- Penalties: Ronaldo 127 (21 missed); Messi 84 (25 missed)
International careers (friendly and competitive matches)
- Ronaldo: 115 goals and 31 assists in 184 appearances for Portugal
- Messi: 80 goals and 47 assists in 158 appearances for Argentina
- Hat-tricks: Ronaldo 10; Messi 7
- International goal ratio: Ronaldo 0.63; Messi 0.51
- Penalties: Ronaldo 16 (7 missed); Messi 18 (4 missed)
Messi has three red cards in his career, while Ronaldo has eleven.
Messi has received three yellow cards in his career, twice for Argentina and once for Barcelona. He was sent off 43 seconds into Argentina's debut against Hungary in 2005, after coming on as a substitute. In addition, he was sent off against Chile in the 2019 Copa America.
Messi received his third red card of his career – and his first at club level – on January 17, 2021. Messi walked out of the 3-2 Spanish Super Cup final loss to Athletic Bilbao after VAR spotted him yelling at Asier Villalibre.
Ronaldo has been shown the red card 11 times in his career, once for Juventus, six times for Real Madrid, and four times for Manchester United.
International football
International careers (friendly and competitive matches)
- Ronaldo: 115 goals and 31 assists in 184 appearances for Portugal
- Messi: 80 goals and 47 assists in 158 appearances for Argentina
- Hat-tricks: Ronaldo 10; Messi 7
- International goal ratio: Ronaldo 0.63; Messi 0.51
- Penalties: Ronaldo 16 (7 missed); Messi 18 (4 missed)
Ronaldo’s World Cup goals
- 2006: 1
- 2010: 1
- 2014: 1
- 2018: 4
Messi’s World Cup goals
- 2006: 1
- 2010: 0
- 2014: 4
- 2018: 1
Ronaldo’s Uefa European Championship finals record
- Tournaments: 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020
- All-time finals record: 14 goals in 24 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)
Messi’s Copa America finals record
- Tournaments: 2007, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021
- All-time finals record: 13 goals in 34 matches
- 2007 Copa America: two goals
- 2011 Copa America: zero goals
- 2015 Copa America: one goal
- 2016 Copa América Centenario: five goals
- 2019 Copa America: one goal
- 2021 Copa America: four goals (Argentina won the tournament)
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 125 (120 for Barcelona; 5 for PSG)
- Total Uefa competition goals: Ronaldo 143; Messi 128
- Champions League hat-tricks: Ronaldo 8; Messi 8
- All-time Champions League group stage goals: Ronaldo 73; Messi 76
- 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 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 Champions League hat-tricks: 8 each
Trophies and awards
Messi club honours
- Clubs: Paris Saint-Germain (2021-present); Barcelona (2004-2021)
- La Liga titles: 10
- Copa del Rey: 7
- Spanish Supercup: 7
- Uefa Champions League: 4
- Uefa Super Cup: 3
- Fifa Club World Cup: 3
Messi international honours with Argentina
- 2021 Copa America winner and golden boot winner
- Fifa Under-20 World Cup: 1 (2005)
- Olympic Gold Medal: 1 (2008)
- Record number of appearances for Argentina: 158
Ronaldo club honours
- Clubs: Manchester United (2021-present); Juventus (2018-2021); Real Madrid (2009-2018); Manchester United (2003-2009); Sporting Lisbon (2002-2003)
- Premier League titles: 3
- FA Cup: 1
- English Football League Cup: 2
- La Liga titles: 2
- Copa del Rey: 2
- Spanish Supercup: 2
- Uefa Champions League: 5 (four with Real Madrid, one with Man Utd)
- Uefa Super Cup: 2
- Fifa Club World Cup: 4 (three with Real Madrid, one with Man Utd)
- Portugal Super Cup: 1
- Supercoppa Italiana: 2
- Serie A titles: 2
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 (115 goals)
- All-time leading scorer in European Championship history (14 goals in 25 tournament matches)
- Euro 2020 golden boot winner
Ronaldo vs. Messi: Ballon d’Or wins
- Ronaldo – 5 wins: 2017, 2016, 2014, 2013, 2008
- Messi – 7 wins: 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
What others are saying about Messi
Cristiano Ronaldo: "I really admire his career so far, and he has already stated that he had difficulty when I left the Spanish league because it is a rivalry that he values." Football has a lot of good rivalries, and this one is no exception. Michael Jordan had rivals in basketball, Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost had great rivals in Formula One, and the only thing they all have in common is that they are healthy."
"He is the best player I have ever seen," says Pep Guardiola. What I like best about him is not what he does, but how simple he makes everything appear. He is the best player not just because he can dribble past three or four players; he does it better than anyone else in the world."
"I played with Messi, who is one of the greatest footballers of all time in my opinion, and he is my football idol," Neymar says.
"I have seen the player who will take my place in Argentine football, and his name is Messi," said Diego Maradona. Messi is an absolute genius."
What others are saying about Ronaldo
Lionel Messi: "(Ronaldo) is always there, scoring goals in every game and participating in his club and national teams." He's been doing it for a long time, and whether he's at his peak or a little below doesn't matter."
After Ronaldo's 770th official goal, Brazil legend Pele said, "Life is a solo flight." Each person embarks on his or her own journey. And what a lovely journey you're on. I have a lot of respect for you and enjoy watching you play, which is no secret to anyone. Congratulations on breaking my all-time goal-scoring record in official matches. My only regret is that I couldn't give you a hug today."
"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," said George Best.
"When you play with Ronaldo on your team, you are already 1-0 up," said Zinedine Zidane.
"The best player I've ever played against has to be Ronaldo," says Gerard Pique. You can't afford to take your gaze away from him."
