Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi: The rivalry between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi is one of the biggest in football. For nine seasons, they played against each other with Ronaldo at Real Madrid and Messi at Barcelona. Both have been at the top of the game for over a decade, breaking records and showing what it means to be the best in football.
Ronaldo is known for his physical strength, speed, and hard work. He is a goal-scoring machine who succeeds in different leagues, the Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A.
Messi, on the other hand, is known for his natural talent and technical skill. His dribbling and playmaking are legendary, and he has spent most of his career at Barcelona before moving to PSG and Inter Miami.
Ronaldo is about power and hard work, while Messi is a pure football genius. Their rivalry has pushed both to new heights, and they are icons of the sport. Whether you prefer Ronaldo’s athleticism or Messi’s skill, there is no doubt they are among the greatest footballers ever.
Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi
In this article, we discuss Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Lionel Messi and decide who is the true GOAT (Greatest of All Time).
Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi All-Time Stats
Ronaldo has scored over 900 goals in his career, while Messi has scored over 860. Messi is known for his creativity, and he has more assists with over 400 compared to Ronaldo’s 285. Both are also great penalty takers, with Ronaldo scoring over 160 penalties and Messi converting over 110. They also recorded their names among the players with the most penalties.
| TOTALS | Ronaldo | Messi |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 1259 | 1115 |
| Goals | 912 | 860 |
| Ratio | 0.72 | 0.77 |
| Assists | 287 | 417 |
| Penalty | 163 | 110 |
| Free Kick | 64 | 65 |
| Hat Tricks | 66 | 59 |
| Trophies | 33 | 46 |
| Ballon d’Or | 4 | 8 |
| European Golden Shoe | 4 | 6 |
Their success isn’t just about goals and assists. Ronaldo has won the Ballon d’Or 5 times, while Messi has won it 8 times. Messi has scored 59 hat-tricks, and Ronaldo has 66. Messi has 65 free kicks, and Ronaldo has 64. They have both led their teams to many league titles and Champions League wins.
Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi Stats – Season 2023/2024 & 2024/2025
Here’s a comparison of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi’s stats for the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 seasons. Since Ronaldo is playing in Saudi Arabia and Messi is in the USA, we can look at their performance in these different leagues.
| Stat | Ronaldo – 24/25 | Messi – 23/24 |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 19 | 23 |
| Goals | 16 | 22 |
| Assists | 3 | 13 |
Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi Goals, Assists & Trophies at Club Level
In their club careers, both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are incredible. Ronaldo has played over 1,040 matches, scored over 774 goals, made 241 assists, and won 31 trophies.
Messi has played 922 matches, scored 748 goals, made 356 assists, and won 40 trophies. Messi has more trophies, while Ronaldo has more goals.
| Stat | Ronaldo | Messi |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 1,040 | 922 |
| Goals | 775 | 748 |
| Assists | 243 | 356 |
| Minutes Per Goal | 109′ | 101′ |
| Minutes Played | 83.437” | 74.382” |
| Trophies | 31 | 40 |
Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi Goals, Assists & Trophies at National Level
In their national team careers, both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are impressive, but Messi has a slight edge. Ronaldo has played 216 matches, scored 133 goals, made 45 assists, and won 2 trophies.
Messi has played 189 matches, scored 112 goals, made 60 assists, and won 6 trophies. Messi leads in trophies, while Ronaldo has more goals.
Messi has won the World Cup, 2 Copa Americas, an Olympic medal, and the Finalissima with his national team.
| Stat | Ronaldo | Messi |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 216 | 187 |
| Goals | 133 | 109 |
| Assists | 45 | 58 |
| Minutes Per Goal | 129′ | 142′ |
| Minutes Played | 17.012′ | 15.488′ |
| Trophies | 2 | 6 |
Who’s More Impressive in the World Cup? Goals, Assists & Trophies
When it comes to World Cup performances, Lionel Messi has a better record than Cristiano Ronaldo.
Messi has scored 13 goals in five World Cups, while Ronaldo has scored 8. Messi also has 8 assists, compared to Ronaldo’s 2. The biggest difference is in World Cup trophies: Messi won one in 2022, while Ronaldo hasn’t won any.
Messi’s higher goal count, more assists, and World Cup win show his superior performance on football’s biggest stage.
| Stat | Ronaldo | Messi |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 22 | 26 |
| Goals | 8 | 13 |
| Assists | 2 | 8 |
| Penalty | 3 | 4 |
| Minutes Per Goal | 221′ | 178′ |
| Minutes Played | 1.764′ | 2.315′ |
| World Cup | – | 1 |
Who’s More Impressive in EURO/COPA AMERICA? Goals, Assists & Trophies
When comparing Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the UEFA European Championship (EURO) and the Copa América, there are clear differences.
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 14 goals and made 8 assists in five EURO tournaments. He won the EURO once, in 2016.
Lionel Messi has scored 13 goals and made 5 assists in six Copa América tournaments. He has won the Copa América twice, in 2021 and 2024.
Ronaldo’s achievements highlight his success in European competitions, while Messi’s record shows his dominance in South American football.
| Stat | Ronaldo | Messi |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 30 | 39 |
| Goals | 14 | 14 |
| Assists | 8 | 18 |
| Penalty | 3 | 3 |
| Minutes Per Goal | 189′ | 238′ |
| Minutes Played | 2.641” | 3.334” |
| EURO/COPA AMERICA | 1 | 2 |
Who’s More Impressive in the Champions League? Goals, Assists & Trophies?
In the UEFA Champions League, Cristiano Ronaldo stands out with the most goals, having scored 140 in 188 matches, and he has won the trophy 5 times in 2008, 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2018.
Lionel Messi has scored 129 goals in 163 matches and leads in assists with 45. He has won the Champions League 4 times with Barcelona, in 2006, 2009, 2011, and 2015. While Ronaldo has more goals and titles, Messi’s impressive assist record highlights his role as a key playmaker.
| Stat | Ronaldo | Messi |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 183 | 163 |
| Goals | 140 | 129 |
| Assists | 48 | 45 |
| Penalty | 19 | 18 |
| Minutes Per Goal | 114′ | 105′ |
| Minutes Played | 15.938” | 13.577” |
| Champions League | 5 | 4 |
Who’s More Impressive in La Liga? Goals, Assists & Trophies?
In La Liga, both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have achieved remarkable records, but they differ in several key areas. Lionel Messi scored 474 goals in 520 matches, averaging about 0.91 goals per match. He also provided 216 assists and won 10 La Liga titles with Barcelona.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored 311 goals in 292 matches, averaging an impressive 1.06 goals per match. He made 95 assists and won 2 La Liga titles with Real Madrid.
Messi leads in both goals and assists and has more titles. While Ronaldo’s goal-scoring rate was exceptional, Messi’s overall contribution and success in La Liga highlight his outstanding career in Spanish football.
| Stat | Ronaldo | Messi |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 292 | 520 |
| Goals | 311 | 474 |
| Assists | 95 | 216 |
| Penalty | 61 | 60 |
| Minutes Per Goal | 81′ | 89′ |
| Minutes Played | 25.113′ | 42.148′ |
| La Liga | 2 | 10 |
Who’s More Impressive in Serie A/Ligue 1? Goals, Assists & Trophies?
When comparing Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in Serie A and Ligue 1, their achievements showcase different strengths.
Serie A:
Cristiano Ronaldo scored 81 goals in 98 matches with Juventus, averaging 0.83 goals per match. He also made 17 assists and won 2 Serie A titles (2019-2020, 2020-2021).
Ligue 1:
Lionel Messi, since joining Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), has scored 22 goals in 58 matches, averaging 0.43 goals per match. He has provided 16 assists and won 1 Ligue 1 title (2021-2022).
Ronaldo had a strong impact in Serie A with more goals, while Messi has contributed significantly in Ligue 1 with assists and a title.
| Stat | Ronaldo | Messi |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 98 | 58 |
| Goals | 81 | 22 |
| Assists | 17 | 31 |
| Penalty | 23 | – |
| Minutes Per Goal | 104′ | 227′ |
| Minutes Played | 8.441′ | 4.994′ |
| Serie A/Ligue 1 | 2 | 2 |
Who’s More Impressive in Saudi Pro League/MLS? Goals, Assists & Trophies?
Both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have made notable impacts in their respective leagues outside Europe.
Cristiano Ronaldo, playing for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, has scored around 51 goals and provided 14 assists since joining in January 2023.
Lionel Messi, who joined Inter Miami in MLS in July 2023, has scored 21 goals and made 12 assists.
| Stat | Ronaldo | Messi |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 50 | 25 |
| Goals | 51 | 21 |
| Assists | 14 | 12 |
| Penalty | 13 | 1 |
| Minutes Per Goal | 85′ | 100′ |
| Minutes Played | 4.352′ | 1.497′ |
| Saudi Pro League/MLS | – | 1 |
Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi Matches Against Each Other
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have faced each other 37 times across various competitions, with Messi generally having the edge.
In La Liga, Messi won 10 out of 18 matches and scored 12 goals, while Ronaldo won 4 times and scored 9 goals.
In the Copa del Rey, Messi won 1 of 5 matches, and Ronaldo won 2 matches and scored 5 goals.
In the UEFA Champions League, Messi won 2 out of 6 matches and scored 3 goals, while Ronaldo also won 2 matches and scored 2 goals.
In the Supercopa de España, Messi won 2 out of 5 matches and scored 6 goals, while Ronaldo won 2 times and scored 4 goals.
Overall, Messi’s better record against Ronaldo highlights his superior performance in their head-to-head encounters.
| Competition | Matches | Messi W | D | Ronaldo W | Messi G | Ronaldo G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Liga | 18 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 9 |
| UEFA Champions League | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Copa del Rey | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Supercopa de España | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 4 |
| International friendly | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Club friendly | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Total | 37 | 17 | 9 | 11 | 23 | 23 |
Who Has More Trophies?
Lionel Messi has a slight edge over Cristiano Ronaldo in terms of total trophies won. Messi has 46 trophies in his career, including 10 La Liga titles, 4 UEFA Champions League titles, and 7 Copa del Rey victories. His international honors include the Copa América (2021, 2024), the World Cup (2022), and the Finalissima (2022).
Cristiano Ronaldo has won 33 trophies, including 5 UEFA Champions League titles, 3 Premier League titles, and 2 Serie A titles. His international achievements include the UEFA European Championship (2016) and the Nations League (2019).
Messi’s slightly higher trophy count highlights his exceptional achievements in football.
| Competition | Ronaldo | Messi |
|---|---|---|
| Super Cup | 1 | – |
| Premier League | 3 | – |
| FA Cup | 2 | – |
| Football League Cup | 1 | – |
| FA Community Shield | 1 | – |
| UEFA Champions League | 5 | 4 |
| FIFA Club World Cup | 4 | 3 |
| La Liga | 2 | 10 |
| Copa del Rey | 2 | 7 |
| Spanish Super Cup | 2 | 8 |
| UEFA Super Cup | 2 | 3 |
| Serie A | 2 | – |
| Italian Cup | 1 | – |
| Italian Super Cup | 2 | – |
| Arab Club Champions Cup | 1 | – |
| UEFA European Championship | 1 | – |
| UEFA Nations League | 1 | – |
| Ligue 1 | – | 2 |
| Champions Trophy | – | 1 |
| Leagues Cup | – | 1 |
| Supporters’ Shield | – | 1 |
| FIFA World Youth Championship | – | 1 |
| Olympic Games | – | 1 |
| FIFA World Cup | – | 1 |
| Copa America | – | 2 |
| Finalissima | – | 1 |
| TOTAL | 33 | 46 |
Who Has More Individual Awards?
Lionel Messi has won more individual awards than Cristiano Ronaldo. Messi has claimed the Ballon d’Or 8 times, the FIFA World Player of the Year 4 times, and the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award 3 times. He has also won the Golden Shoe 6 times, recognizing him as Europe’s top scorer.
Cristiano Ronaldo, in comparison, has won the Ballon d’Or 5 times, the FIFA World Player of the Year 3 times, and the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award 4 times. Ronaldo has won the Golden Shoe 4 times.
While both players have an impressive collection of individual awards, Messi has a total of 69 awards, compared to Ronaldo’s 65. This highlights Messi’s slight edge in individual honors.
| Awards | Ronaldo | Messi |
|---|---|---|
| The Best FIFA Men’s Player | 3 | 4 |
| Player of the Year | 9 | 9 |
| Ballon d’Or | 5 | 8 |
| European Golden Shoe | 4 | 6 |
| UEFA Best Player in Europe | 4 | 3 |
| Top Goalscorer | 20 | 23 |
| TM-Player of the season | 3 | 4 |
| Olympic Medalist | – | 1 |
| Footballer of the Year | 13 | – |
| Pichichi Trophy | 3 | 8 |
| FIFA Puskas Award | 1 | |
| FIFA World Cup Golden Ball | – | 2 |
| FIFA World Cup Silver Ball | – | 1 |
| TOTAL | 65 | 69 |
Who Scores More Penalty Goals?
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored more penalty goals than Lionel Messi. Ronaldo has taken 193 penalties, scoring 163 and missing 30, with a success rate of 84%.
In comparison, Messi has taken 141 penalties, scoring 110 and missing 31, with a success rate of 78%. This shows Ronaldo’s higher success rate and overall better performance in penalties compared to Messi.
| Penalty | Ronaldo | Messi |
|---|---|---|
| Total Penalty Taken | 193 | 141 |
| Total Penalty Scored | 163 | 110 |
| Total Penalty Missed | 30 | 31 |
| Success Rate | 84% | 78% |
Who Scores More Free Kick Goals?
Messi is known for his incredible precision in free kicks, has scored around 65 free-kick goals in his career. In comparison, Cristiano Ronaldo has scored approximately 64 free-kick goals.
| Ronaldo | Messi |
|---|---|
| 64 | 65 |
Who Has More Hat Tricks?
Cristiano Ronaldo has more hat tricks than Lionel Messi. Ronaldo has over 66 hat tricks, while Messi has around 59.
| Ronaldo | Messi |
|---|---|
| 66 | 59 |
Who’s the Social Media Star?
Cristiano Ronaldo is the top social media star, with over 1 billion followers across Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube. Lionel Messi, though popular, has around 700 million combined followers. While Messi has a strong influence, Ronaldo’s larger following and higher engagement make him the leading football star on social media.
| Social Media | Ronaldo | Messi |
|---|---|---|
| 639 million | 504 million | |
| 170 million | 105 million | |
| X (Twitter) | 113 million | 100 million |
| Youtube | 60 million | 4 million |
Who Has More Money?
Lionel Messi has a higher net worth than Cristiano Ronaldo. Messi’s net worth is around $650 million, while Ronaldo’s is approximately $600 million.
| Ronaldo | Messi |
|---|---|
| Net Worth – $600 million | Net Worth – $650 million |
Who’s the Better Passer?
Lionel Messi’s superior passing stats and ability to create scoring opportunities for his teammates highlight his advantage as the better passer. His vision and playmaking skills set him apart in this area.
Who’s the Best Dribbler?
Messi’s superior dribbling, known for his precision and creativity, makes him the better dribbler between him and Ronaldo. His close control and agility give him an edge in this skill.
Who Has the Best Heading Skills?
Cristiano Ronaldo’s superior heading skills, marked by his impressive physical attributes and goal-scoring record with headers, make him the better header of the ball.
Who Is Faster?
Cristiano Ronaldo’s top-end speed and sprinting ability give him the edge as the faster player. However, Lionel Messi’s speed, combined with his exceptional dribbling and agility, helps him navigate through defenses effectively, even though he is slightly slower.
Who’s the Ultimate Winner?
Both Messi and Ronaldo have achieved remarkable records and left a lasting impact on football history. Messi is celebrated for his artistic play and consistency, while Ronaldo is praised for his athleticism, goal-scoring, and adaptability. The “ultimate winner” often comes down to personal preference and the qualities one values most in a footballer. Each player has created an extraordinary legacy, making it hard to definitively choose one over the other. Share your thoughts in voting poll and comments section