Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi: Who Is Better? Discovering The Biggest Rivalry – In Pics

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The debate over who is the greatest of all time – Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi – has become one of football’s most enduring questions. For the past decade, fans around the world have passionately argued over which of these two icons is the best, and this debate shows no signs of fading anytime soon.

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Ronaldo has netted more club goals than Messi, though the difference is minimal. It’s important to consider that the Al-Nassr forward has had the advantage of playing two additional seasons compared to his Argentine counterpart.

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Although Ronaldo holds a higher total goal count, Messi surpasses him in terms of season average, scoring 37.9 goals per season compared to Ronaldo’s 35. Messi’s peak came in the 2011-12 season, where he scored an impressive 73 goals, though his average dipped following a challenging first season at PSG in 2021-22.

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Ronaldo's best goal tally in a single season came in 2014-15, when he scored 61 goals. Additionally, he consistently surpassed the 50-goal mark in every season from 2010-11 to 2015-16.

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In terms of assists, Messi (320 assists) significantly outperforms Ronaldo (219 assists), and this difference has grown even more noticeable as their roles on the field have evolved over time.

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Ronaldo, with 140 goals, is the all-time top scorer in the Champions League, having made a significant impact while playing for Manchester United and Real Madrid. He also holds the record for the most appearances in the competition, surpassing Iker Casillas, and continues to lead Messi, who has 129.

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Neither player had claimed a World Cup title until 2022, when Messi led Argentina to victory with a series of remarkable performances throughout the tournament.

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Ronaldo (135 goals) and Messi (112 goals) have similar international goal tallies, although Ronaldo has the upper hand. This is largely because he began his senior career with Portugal two years ahead of Messi's start with Argentina.

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When comparing the titles of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, the numbers show an interesting contrast. In terms of continental competitions, Ronaldo has one European Championship and one Nations League, while Messi has two Copa Americas and one Finalissima. Neither player has an Olympic gold medal, but Messi has one, while Ronaldo doesn’t. Ronaldo has won seven league titles, while Messi has 12.

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In the Champions League, Ronaldo leads with five titles compared to Messi’s four. The two are close in the Club World Cup, with Ronaldo securing four and Messi three. When it comes to national cups, Ronaldo has won four, while Messi has seven. Overall, Ronaldo has accumulated 22 major titles, while Messi has 30.

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Messi surpassed Ronaldo in the Ballon d'Or race after securing his sixth award in 2019, further solidifying his dominance in this category with his seventh in 2021 and eighth in 2023.

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Messi has won two Best FIFA Men's Player awards, four European Golden Shoes, and two World Cup Golden Balls, while Ronaldo has three FIFA awards, six Golden Shoes, and none for the World Cup. Both have won UEFA Player of the Year four times, with Ronaldo earning three. Messi has been named to the FIFPro World XI 15 times, compared to Ronaldo's 17, and Messi has four league Player of the Year titles, while Ronaldo has six.