In this article, The Sporting News will provide the audience with all the parameters and comparisons they need to know about the careers of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo: Compare goals and assists
Statistics as of February 18, 2024
| Lionel Messi | Cristiano Ronaldo | |
| 1047 | Match | 1205 |
| 821 | Goal | 875 |
| 361 | Assist | 9 |
| 57 | Hat-trick | 63 |
| 108 | Penalty* | 161 |
* – does not include penalty shootouts.
Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo: Title comparison
Throughout their careers, both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have brought home many individual and collective titles. Among them, the time both of them played in La Liga and faced off directly in the colors of Real Madrid and Barcelona was the most memorable.
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As for Lionel Messi, he and Barcelona have more domestic titles. However, Cristiano Ronaldo is superior in the Champions League with Real Madrid. In terms of the national team, Messi is the name that will win the 2022 World Cup title.
In terms of individual titles, these two players’ race for the Golden Ball over the past nearly 20 years is the most exciting duel in world football history. Ronaldo has 5 Golden Balls, while Messi has been named this title 8 times.
| Title | Messi | Ronaldo |
| National Championship | twelfth | 7 |
| Domestic Cup | 15 | twelfth |
| Club-level international title | 11 | twelfth |
| International title at DT!G level | first | 2 |
| Olympics | first | 0 |
| Golden Ball | 8 | 5 |
| FIFA World Player of the Year | first | first |
| FIFA The Best | 3 | 2 |
| World Cup Golden Ball | 2 | 0 |
| European Golden Shoe | 6 | 4 |
Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo: Head-to-head statistics
When Cristiano Ronaldo was still playing for Man United, the two had several occasions to compete in the Champions League. However, the competition increased many times after Ronaldo joined Real Madrid in the summer of 2009.
Since that time, El Clasico was also a competition between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, attracting the attention of many fans around the world.
At the team level, the two have never had the opportunity to compete in any official tournament. Therefore, both sides have to rely on friendly matches between Argentina and Portugal to serve the fans.
| Tournaments | Match | Messi wins | Ronaldo wins | Draw | Messi’s goal | Ronaldo’s goal |
| La Liga | 18 | ten | 4 | 4 | twelfth | 9 |
| Champions League | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| King’s Cup of Spain | 5 | first | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Spanish Super Cup | 5 | 2 | 2 | first | 6 | 4 |
| International friendly | 2 | first | first | 0 | first | first |
| Club friendly | first | first | 0 | 0 | first | 2 |
| Total | 37 | 17 | 11 | 9 | 23 | 23 |
HUGE PRIZES when predicting match results HERE
Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo: Stats statistics in each confrontation
| Day | Tournaments | Match | Messi | Ronaldo |
| January 19, 2023 | Friendly match | Riyadh Season Team 4- 5 PSG | 1 table | 2 tables |
| December 9, 2020 | Champions League | Barcelona 0- 3 Juventus | — | 2 tables |
| May 6, 2018 | La Liga | Barcelona 2-2 Real Madrid | 1 table | 1 table |
| December 23, 2017 | La Liga | Real Madrid 0- 3 Barcelona | — | 1 goal, 1 assist |
| August 13, 2017 | Spanish Super Cup | Barcelona 1- 3 Real Madrid | 1 table | 1 table |
| April 23, 2017 | La Liga | Real Madrid 2- 3 Barcelona | 2 tables | — |
| December 3, 2016 | La Liga | Barcelona 1-1 Real Madrid | — | — |
| April 2, 2016 | La Liga | Barcelona 1- 2 Real Madrid | — | 1 table |
| November 21, 2015 | La Liga | Real Madrid 0- 4 Barcelona | — | — |
| March 22, 2015 | La Liga | Barcelona 2 -1 Real Madrid | 1 assist | 1 table |
| November 18, 2014 | Friendly match | Argentina 0- 1 Portugal | — | — |
| October 25, 2014 | La Liga | Real Madrid 3 -1 Barcelona | — | 1 table |
| March 23, 2014 | La Liga | Real Madrid 3- 4 Barcelona | 3 tables | 1 table |
| October 26, 2013 | La Liga | Barcelona 2 -1 Real Madrid | — | 1 assist |
| March 2, 2013 | La Liga | Real Madrid 2 -1 Barcelona | 1 table | — |
| February 26, 2013 | King’s Cup | Barcelona 1- 3 Real Madrid | — | 2 tables |
| January 30, 2013 | King’s Cup | Real Madrid 1-1 Barcelona | 1 assist | — |
| October 7, 2012 | La Liga | Barcelona 2-2 Real Madrid | 2 tables | 2 tables |
| August 29, 2012 | Spanish Super Cup | Real Madrid 2 -1 Barcelona | 1 table | 1 table |
| August 22, 2012 | Spanish Super Cup | Barcelona 3 -2 Real Madrid | 1 table | 1 table |
| April 21, 2012 | La Liga | Barcelona 1- 2 Real Madrid | — | 1 table |
| January 25, 2012 | King’s Cup | Barcelona 2-2 Real Madrid | 1 assist | 1 table |
| January 18, 2012 | King’s Cup | Real Madrid 1- 2 Barcelona | 1 assist | 1 table |
| December 10, 2011 | La Liga | Real Madrid 1- 3 Barcelona | — | 1 assist |
| August 17, 2011 | Spanish Super Cup | Barcelona 3 -2 Real Madrid | 2 goals, 1 assist | 1 table |
| August 14, 2011 | Spanish Super Cup | Real Madrid 2-2 Barcelona | 1 goal, 1 assist | — |
| May 3, 2011 | Champions League | Barcelona 1-1 Real Madrid | — | — |
| April 27, 2011 | Champions League | Real Madrid 0- 2 Barcelona | 2 tables | — |
| April 20, 2011 | King’s Cup | Barcelona 0- 1 Real Madrid | — | 1 table |
| April 16, 2011 | La Liga | Real Madrid 1-1 Barcelona | 1 table | 1 table |
| February 9, 2011 | Friendly match | Argentina 2 -1 Portugal | 1 table | 1 table |
| November 29, 2010 | La Liga | Barcelona 5 -0 Real Madrid | 2 assists | — |
| April 10, 2010 | La Liga | Real Madrid 0- 2 Barcelona | 1 table | — |
| November 29, 2009 | La Liga | Barcelona 1 -0 Real Madrid | — | — |
| May 27, 2009 | Champions League | Man United 2 -0 Barcelona | 1 table | — |
| April 29, 2008 | Champions League | Man United 1-0 Barcelona | — | — |
| April 23, 2008 | Champions League | Barcelona 0-0 Man United | — | (1 missed penalty shot) |
| Total | 18 wins 24 goals | 12 wins 24 goals |
SEE MORE: Comparing Messi vs Ronaldo in Europe: Who has more goals, assists and titles?
