Below, we compare Messi vs Ronaldo career stats, including goals, assists, trophies, records, free kicks, Ballon d’Or wins, and international achievements.
Goals, Minutes, and Consistency
When it comes to putting the ball in the back of the net, both Messi and Ronaldo have raised the bar over the years. Ronaldo leads with 938 total goals, while Messi follows closely with 874.
Messi reaches a goal every 105 minutes, slightly ahead of Ronaldo’s 112-minute average. Yet Ronaldo has played 165 more games, highlighting his durability and long-term output.
In league football, Ronaldo has scored 572 goals in 728 matches. Messi isn’t far off, with 535 goals in 621 league appearances.
Their Champions League numbers are similarly competitive. Ronaldo leads with 140 goals, while Messi has netted 129.
Creativity and Assists
Lionel Messi is not just a scorer; he’s also a prolific provider. With 388 assists in 1116 matches, his playmaking adds another dimension.
Cristiano Ronaldo has 257 assists in 1281 games, which is still commendable but far off Messi’s tally.
Interestingly, Ronaldo has the edge in Champions League assists, providing 41 compared to Messi’s 40. That narrow lead comes despite having played more games.
Influence in Club Competitions
In all-time club football, excluding friendlies, Ronaldo has scored 800 goals across 1060 appearances. Messi trails slightly with 762 in 923 games.
When looking only at European clubs, Messi has 704 goals and 303 assists in 853 appearances. Ronaldo has 701 goals and 201 assists in 949 European club games.
Both have produced remarkable numbers across Europe’s elite competitions. The margin between them remains slim.
Dominance in International Football
Ronaldo is the all-time top international scorer, having found the net 138 times in 221 matches. Messi, meanwhile, has 112 goals in 193 games for Argentina.
Messi also leads in assists for their respective national teams, with 58, compared to Ronaldo’s 37.
Messi’s recent Copa America and World Cup wins solidify his legacy with Argentina. Ronaldo’s Euro 2016 and Nations League triumphs also underscore his impact for Portugal.
Tournament Performance and Finals
Messi shines in international finals with two Copa America Golden Balls and two World Cup Golden Balls. He also led Argentina to victory in the Finalissima and Olympic Games.
Ronaldo was Portugal’s key figure in their Euro 2016 triumph and scored crucial goals in the Nations League. His goal-scoring at major tournaments is unmatched for Portugal.
In the World Cup, Messi has scored 13 goals in 26 matches. Ronaldo has 8 goals in 22 appearances.
Free Kicks and Set Piece Mastery
Free kicks were once dominated by Ronaldo, but Messi has taken over in recent years. Messi has now scored 69 free kick goals, just ahead of Ronaldo’s 64.
From 2017 to 2019, Messi scored 23 direct free kicks, while Ronaldo only managed 5 in that period.
In earlier years, Ronaldo held the upper hand, especially between 2009 and 2011 when he netted 21 free kicks. That balance has now shifted in Messi’s favor.
Find out how their free kick totals compare over time at Who has more free kick goals Ronaldo or Messi.
Hat Tricks and Scoring Sprees
Ronaldo leads with 66 career hat tricks. Messi is just behind with 59.
In terms of frequency, Messi grabs a hat trick every 18.9 games, while Ronaldo does so every 19.4 matches.
Both have 8 Champions League hat tricks to their name, further proving the closeness of their rivalry.
Shooting Power and Accuracy
Ronaldo takes more shots than Messi—5031 compared to 3979 in available data. That shows his willingness to shoot from various positions.
However, Messi is more efficient, scoring every 5.27 shots. Ronaldo needs 6.43 shots per goal.
Messi also lands more shots on target with 46.02% accuracy, while Ronaldo hits the mark 40.45% of the time.
Penalty Stats and Conversion Rates
Ronaldo has scored 175 penalties (33 misses), giving him an 84% conversion rate. Messi has netted 110 from the spot, missing 31, leading to a 78% rate.
Despite Ronaldo’s better numbers, both have had their high-pressure misses in crucial matches.
Ronaldo missed in the 2008 Champions League final shootout but still won the title. Messi missed a key penalty in the 2016 Copa America final.
Dribbling and Ball Control
Messi continues to dribble with flair, completing 3957 successful take-ons. Ronaldo has 1931 successful dribbles.
While Ronaldo’s role evolved over time, Messi maintained a deeper role, allowing him to keep dribbling as a major asset.
Messi’s ability to beat defenders in tight spaces remains unmatched, even into his later years.
Headers and Aerial Threats
This category belongs to Ronaldo without question. He’s scored 155 goals with his head, while Messi has only 28.
Ronaldo also dominates aerial duels, winning 1042, compared to Messi’s 162.
His physical presence and leaping ability have made him a consistent threat in the air.
Passing, Vision, and Key Moments
Messi leads with 1954 key passes and 513 through balls, compared to Ronaldo’s 1264 key passes and 89 through balls.
While Messi often drops deeper to influence the game, Ronaldo has focused more on positioning and finishing.
Both styles are effective, but Messi’s numbers paint a clearer picture in terms of vision and passing contribution.
Trophies and Career Honors
Messi has lifted 46 trophies across his career, while Ronaldo has claimed 36.
Among Messi’s titles are a World Cup, two Copa Americas, and an Olympic gold medal. Ronaldo’s cabinet includes a European Championship and two Nations League trophies.
Ronaldo has won five Champions League titles, compared to Messi’s four. Messi, however, has more league titles, with 13 to Ronaldo’s 7.
Ballon d’Ors and Individual Accolades
Messi has taken home 8 Ballon d’Ors. Ronaldo follows with 5.
In total nominations, Ronaldo leads with 18, while Messi has 16. That means both have remained relevant at the highest level for nearly two decades.
Messi has more Top 2 and Top 3 finishes in the Ballon d’Or, reflecting his consistency.
When it comes to the Puskas Award, Ronaldo has won once from two nominations. Messi, despite seven nods, has never claimed the trophy.
Check out the highest paid footballers to see where both rank in terms of earnings.
Records and Global Achievements
Ronaldo holds the record for most goals in international football, and he dominates Champions League records, including goals, assists, and hat tricks.
Messi holds the record for most goals in a calendar year (91 in 2012), most league goals in a season (50), and most consecutive league matches scored in (21).
Both own a fair share of unmatched milestones. From goals to assists to awards, the competition between them spans every corner of the sport.
Legacy in La Liga
While their rivalry stretched across continents, it reached its peak in La Liga. Ronaldo scored 311 goals in 292 La Liga games. Messi recorded 474 goals in 520 league matches.
In terms of league scoring accolades, Messi has won the Golden Boot 8 times, Ronaldo 5.
Here’s a look at the top scorers in La Liga to understand how each dominated Spain’s top flight.
Ballon d’Or and FIFA Best Awards
| Award | Messi | Ronaldo |
|---|---|---|
| Ballon d’Or | 8 | 5 |
| FIFA World Player / FIFA Best | 8 | 5 |
| Ballon d’Or 2nd Place (Silver Ball) | 5 | 6 |
| Ballon d’Or 3rd Place (Bronze Ball) | 1 | 1 |
| FIFA World Player 2nd Place | 7 | 6 |
| FIFA World Player 3rd Place | 1 | 2 |
| FIFA The Best Special Award | 0 | 1 |
European Golden Shoe and Scoring Titles
| Award | Messi | Ronaldo |
|---|---|---|
| European Golden Shoe | 6 | 4 |
| Champions League Top Scorer | 6 | 7 |
| La Liga Top Scorer (Pichichi) | 8 | 3 |
| Premier League Top Scorer | 0 | 1 |
| Serie A Top Scorer | 0 | 1 |
| Saudi Pro League Top Scorer | 0 | 2 |
International Tournament Awards
| Award | Messi | Ronaldo |
|---|---|---|
| FIFA World Cup Golden Ball | 2 | 0 |
| FIFA World Cup Silver Boot | 1 | 0 |
| Copa America Golden Ball | 2 | 0 |
| Copa America Golden Boot | 1 | 0 |
| Copa America Best Young Player | 1 | 0 |
| UEFA Euro Golden Boot | 0 | 1 |
| UEFA Euro Silver Boot | 0 | 1 |
| UEFA Nations League Golden Boot | 0 | 1 |
| UEFA Nations League Goal of Tourney | 0 | 1 |
League-Specific Player Awards
| Award | Messi | Ronaldo |
|---|---|---|
| La Liga Best Player (LFP) | 6 | 1 |
| La Liga Best Forward | 7 | 1 |
| Trofeo Alfredo Di Stefano | 7 | 4 |
| Serie A MVP | 0 | 1 |
| Serie A Best Forward | 0 | 2 |
| Serie A Best Striker | 0 | 1 |
| Premier League Player of the Season | 0 | 2 |
| Ligue 1 Best Foreign Player | 1 | 0 |
| MLS MVP | 1 | 0 |
Special Honors and Career Recognitions
| Award | Messi | Ronaldo |
|---|---|---|
| FIFPro World XI Appearances | 17 | 15 |
| Ballon d’Or Dream Team | 1 | 1 |
| Laureus World Sportsman of the Year | 2 | 0 |
| TIME Athlete of the Year | 1 | 0 |
| Globe Soccer Best Player of the Century | 0 | 1 |
| IFFHS World’s Best Player | 1 | 0 |
| IFFHS World’s Best Playmaker | 5 | 0 |
| IFFHS Top Goal Scorer (Yearly) | 2 | 5 |
| IFFHS Top Goal Scorer of XXI Century | 0 | 1 |
| IFFHS All-Time One Club Goal Scorer (Barcelona) | 1 | 0 |
Country-Specific Awards
| Award | Messi | Ronaldo |
|---|---|---|
| Argentine Player of the Year (Olimpia de Plata) | 16 | – |
| Argentine Sportsperson of the Year (Olimpia de Oro) | 4 | – |
| Argentine Athlete of the Decade | 1 | – |
| Best Portuguese Athlete Abroad (CNID) | – | 10 |
| Portuguese Footballer of the Year (FPF) | – | 5 |
| Best Portuguese Player of All Time | – | 1 |
Goal of the Season and Fan Awards
| Award | Messi | Ronaldo |
|---|---|---|
| FIFA Puskas Award | 0 | 1 |
| FIFA Puskas Nominations | 7 | 2 |
| UEFA Goal of the Season (UEFA.com) | 4 | 2 |
| UEFA Best Goal by Technical Observers | 1 | 3 |
Finally
There’s no easy answer to the Messi vs Ronaldo debate. Both have defined their era and expanded what we expect from football’s elite.
From records to trophies, goals to assists, headers to free kicks, each player brings something unique to the pitch. And while fans may never agree on who’s better, what’s certain is that football has been richer for having them both.
Article updated 2 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
