Messi vs Ronaldo • Head To Head

Compare The Legends

Pick a category and see how two of the greatest careers in football history measure up, side by side.

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Cristiano Ronaldo smiling in an Al Nassr training shirt Lionel Messi holding up the Ballon d'Or
RivalryMessi vs Ronaldo
Cristiano
Ronaldo
Portugal
VS
Lionel
Messi
Argentina
Rivalry since 2008Spain 2009 – 201813 Ballon d'Or
13Ballon d'Or
9UCL Titles
1900+Goals
7Intl Trophies
Cristiano Ronaldo looking up in a Portugal shirt Lionel Messi holding the MLS Golden Boot
Two Legends
One Rivalry
Goals • Trophies • Records • Head To HeadExplore Stats →
Most Remembered Finals
FIFA World Cup — Final
Lusail • 18 December 2022
3 - 3
Argentina won 4-2 on penalties
Argentina
VS
France
UEFA Euro — Final
Saint-Denis • 10 July 2016
1 - 0
Portugal won after extra time
Portugal
VS
France
Iconic ResultsAll Goals
2008Manchester United1 - 1ChelseaUCL Final • United won on pens
2009Barcelona2 - 0Manchester UnitedUCL Final • Rome
2017Real Madrid2 - 3BarcelonaEl Clasico • Messi 90+2'
2018Portugal3 - 3SpainWorld Cup • Ronaldo hat-trick
2022Argentina3 - 3FranceWorld Cup Final • Messi 2 goals
Ballon d'Or Share13 awards
Who has won more?
View All Awards →
Champions LeagueTitles won
CRCristiano Ronaldo5
LMLionel Messi4
Watch The Goals → Ronaldo: Man United and Real Madrid • Messi: Barcelona
Record CenterView All
Most Ballon d'Or AwardsLionel Messi8
Champions League Top ScorerCristiano Ronaldo140
World Cup Golden BallsLionel Messi2
European Golden ShoesLionel Messi6

Head To Head

Six categories, one rivalry. Choose a tab to switch the comparison.

Two forwards born two years apart, who took very different roads to the top of the game.

Cristiano Ronaldo in an Al Nassr shirt
Portugal • Forward
Cristiano Ronaldo
Lionel Messi in an Inter Miami shirt
Argentina • Forward
Lionel Messi
RonaldoMessi
1985Born1987
FunchalBirthplaceRosario
2002Senior Debut2004
7Shirt Number10
RightPreferred FootLeft
Al NassrCurrent ClubInter Miami

Both players are closing in on 1,000 career goals, and both rewrote the Champions League record books.

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrating a goal for Portugal
Portugal • Forward
Cristiano Ronaldo
Lionel Messi dribbling for Inter Miami
Argentina • Forward
Lionel Messi
RonaldoMessi
980+Career Goals (Approx.)930+
140Champions League Goals129
4European Golden Shoes6

The biggest team honours from more than two decades at the very top.

Cristiano Ronaldo applauding the fans
Portugal • Forward
Cristiano Ronaldo
Lionel Messi lifted by teammates with the World Cup trophy
Argentina • Forward
Lionel Messi
RonaldoMessi
5Champions League Titles4
3Major International Trophies4
3Countries With A League Title2
0FIFA World Cup1

Individual awards that measure a decade of competition between the two.

Cristiano Ronaldo under the stadium lights for Al Nassr
Portugal • Forward
Cristiano Ronaldo
Lionel Messi holding the Ballon d'Or trophy
Argentina • Forward
Lionel Messi
RonaldoMessi
5Ballon d'Or8
0World Cup Golden Ball2
4European Golden Shoes6

National team careers that finally ended long waits for major trophies.

Cristiano Ronaldo applauding in a Portugal shirt
Portugal • Forward
Cristiano Ronaldo
Lionel Messi in an Argentina shirt
Argentina • Forward
Lionel Messi
RonaldoMessi
PortugalNational TeamArgentina
2003International Debut2005
Euro 2016Continental TitlesCopa 2021, 2024
Semi-FinalWorld Cup BestWinner 2022

Different strengths, the same hunger. How each of them changes a game.

Cristiano Ronaldo running for Al Nassr
Portugal • Forward
Cristiano Ronaldo
Lionel Messi celebrating for Inter Miami
Argentina • Forward
Lionel Messi
RonaldoMessi
FinisherRoleCreator
Power And TimingBiggest StrengthClose Control
KnuckleballSignature FinishCurling Shot
Elite HeaderIn The AirRarely Heads

A red dot marks who leads each category. Career goal totals are approximate and change every week.

Settle The Debate

Numbers start the argument. The goals, the trophies and the journeys finish it.

Cristiano Ronaldo kneeling for Portugal and Lionel Messi playing for Paris Saint-Germain
Messi CR7

The Rivalry In Numbers

Two players pushed each other to the top of the game for more than a decade. Here is how they compare.

Ronaldo
Messi
05
Ballon d'Or
08
05
Champions League
04
2002
Senior Debut
2004
7
Shirt Number
10
1985
Born
1987

Two different styles, one shared standard, and a debate that fans will never finish.