This is only possible because the duo spent much of their careers at Barcelona and Real Madrid, their own rivalry subsumed by the heated rivalry between the two clubs, and their fan bases. At times the clubs seemed to be competing with each other on almost a weekly basis. Between April 2010 and April 2012, the clubs faced each other a dozen times.
On top of that, the duo also faced off in an international friendly in that time. It’s easy to see how their rivalry grew to define a generation of football.
Below, we’ve listed all the stats and all the numbers on their careers to date, their achievements, and how they’ve fared against each other.
MORE: Complete 2022 FIFA World Cup schedule
Ronaldo vs. Messi: Goals scored
We’ve compared the record between these two greats across their club and international careers.
It’s worth remembering that they represent international teams in different federations. Argentina qualify directly for the Copa America, so they don’t take part in qualifiers like Portugal do for the European Championships.
Ronaldo vs. Messi: Trophies & awards
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have both lifted a host of trophies, having played at successful teams. They’ve also both earned numerous individual honors, with both of them regularly competing with each other to be recognized as the best player in the world in a given season.
The nature of the trophies they’ve won belies the nature of the teams on which they’ve played. Barcelona were dominant domestically for a significant period, giving Messi the edge in domestic honors, while Real Madrid regularly lifted the Champions League during Cristiano’s time at the club
Ronaldo vs. Messi at the World Cup
The World Cup is a trophy that has eluded both these players in their international careers.
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi, who won an Under-20 World Cup and a Copa America with Argentina, came the closest of the pair, reaching the final in Argentina in the 2014 World Cup. His team lost 1-0 to Germany after extra time. That was the third World Cup in a row in which Argentina were eliminated by the Germans.
In 2010, Messi and Argentina were outclassed 4-0 by the European side, and sent home at the quarterfinal stage. In 2006 they were eliminated at the same stage, but after a different result. The Germans beat them 5-3 on penalties, although Messi didn’t feature in that game. The 2018 tournament was Argentina’s poorest showing at a World Cup featuring Messi, as they lost 4-3 to France in the Round of 16, despite two assists from Lionel Messi.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo has tasted international success with Portugal, winning the European Championship and the Nations League, but his country has failed to match that success in the World Cup.
The tournament where Ronaldo’s Portugal went furthest was 2006, when they lost 1-0 to France in the semifinal before losing the third place playoff match to Germany 3-1.
In 2010 they were eliminated 1-0 by neighbors Spain in the Round of 16, while their visit to Brazil in 2014 was short-lived. Portugal failed to get out of a group containing Germany, Ghana and the USA.
In 2018 they went a step further, Cristiano scored a hat trick in the first game, a 3-3 draw with Spain in the group stage. Portugal qualified for the Round of 16 before losing 2-1 to Uruguay.
Ronaldo vs. Messi: How many times have they met?
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have met 34 times in club competitions so far in their careers. Unsurprisingly, the vast majority of these encounters took place during Cristiano’s time at Real Madrid during heated SuperClasicos, with the capital club regularly going head to head with Lionel Messi’s Barcelona.
The two have faced each other once since then, with Ronaldo scoring a brace for Juventus in the Champions League, and several times during Ronaldo’s first stint at Man United.
The pair have also faced each other for their international teams twice. Both occasions were international friendlies. In February 2011, Argentina beat Portugal 2-1 in Geneva, with both players netting a goal. Portugal got their revenge in November 2014 with a 1-0 win at Old Trafford, although neither player scored.
The pair have never met for their international sides in a competitive fixture.
