The Messi vs Ronaldo rivalry is a football rivalry between fans of Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentinian forward Lionel Messi and supposedly between the athletes themselves.
Having won a combined 11 Ballon d’Or/FIFA Ballon d’Or awards (six for Messi and five for Ronaldo), both are widely regarded not only as of the two best players of their generation but also, by many in the sport, including players, writers, and fans, as the greatest of all time. They are two of the most decorated football players ever, having won a combined 65 trophies (Ronaldo 31, Messi 34) during their careers thus far
Let’s go straight into the records, stats and trophies won by these world-class players.
Lionel Messi player profile
- Age: 32
- Born: 24 June 1987
- Clubs: Barcelona (2004-present)
- Nationality: Argentine
- Ballon d’Or wins: 5 wins (2015, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009)
- The Best Fifa Men’s Player: 1 (2019)
- Champions League winners’ medals – 4: 2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2014–15 (all with Barcelona)
Cristiano Ronaldo player profile
- Age: 34
- Born: 5 February 1985
- Clubs: Juventus (2018-present); Real Madrid (2009-2018); Manchester United (2003-09); Sporting Lisbon (2002-03)
- Nationality: Portuguese
- Ballon d’Or wins: 5 wins (2017, 2016, 2014, 2013, 2008)
- The Best Fifa Men’s Player: 2 wins (2016 and 2017)
- Champions League winners’ medals – 5: 2007–08 with Man Utd; 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17 and 2017–18 with Real Madrid.
2019-2020 club season statistics
Messi for Barcelona
- Appearances: 21
- Goals: 17
- Assists: 9
- Goal ratio: 0.81
- Penalties: 2 (0 missed)
- Hat-tricks: 2
Ronaldo for Juventus
- Appearances: 24
- Goals: 18
- Assists: 2
- Goal ratio: 0.75
- Penalties: 5 (0 missed)
- Hat-tricks: 1
2018-19 final club statistics
- Messi for Barcelona: 51 goals, 19 assists, 50 matches, 5 penalties, 4 hat-tricks, 1.02 goal ratio
- Ronaldo for Juventus: 28 goals, 10 assists, 43 matches, 6 penalties, 1 hat-trick, 0.65 goal ratio.
Ronaldo vs. Messi in European football
Statistics according to Uefa.com (as of 20 January 2020):
- Champions League goals (group stage to final): Ronaldo 128 (105 for Real Madrid; 15 for Man Utd; 8 for Juventus); Messi 114 (all for Barcelona)
- Total Uefa competition goals: Ronaldo 131; Messi 117
- Champions League hat-tricks: Ronaldo 8; Messi 8
- All-time Champions League group stage goals: Ronaldo 63; Messi 68
- Did you know? Ronaldo is the only player to score in three Uefa Champions League finals, and the first to score in 11 successive Champions League matches
Champions League head-to-head
- Ronaldo career Champions League goals: 128 (105 for Real Madrid; 15 for Man Utd; 8 for Juventus)
- Ronaldo Champions League winners’ medals – 5: 2007–08 (with Man Utd); 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18 (with Real Madrid)
- Ronaldo in 2018-19: 6 goals, 2 assists, 9 matches, 1 hat-trick
- Career Champions League hat-tricks: 8 each
- Messi career Champions League goals: 114 (all for Barcelona)
- Lionel Messi Champions League winners’ medals – 4: 2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2014–15 (all with Barcelona)
- Messi in 2018-19: 12 goals, 3 assists, 10 matches, 1 hat-trick
Fifa World Cup tournament records
Cristiano Ronaldo World Cup goals
- 2006: 1
- 2010: 1
- 2014: 1
- 2018: 4
Lionel Messi World Cup goals
- 2006: 1
- 2010: 0
- 2014: 4
- 2018: 1
Messi vs. Ronaldo red cards
Messi’s red card against Chile in the 2019 Copa America was only the second of his career. He had previously only seen red once, on his debut for Argentina. He was red-carded just 43 seconds after coming on as a sub against Hungary in 2005.
Ronaldo has been sent off 11 times in his career – once for Juventus, six times for Real Madrid and four times for Manchester United.
Ronaldo vs. Messi: trophies won
Ronaldo club honours
- Premier League titles: 3
- FA Cup: 1
- English Football League Cup: 2
- La Liga titles: 2
- Copa del Rey: 2
- Spanish Supercup: 2
- Uefa Champions League: 5 (four with Real Madrid, one with Man Utd)
- Uefa Super Cup: 2
- Fifa Club World Cup: 4 (three with Real Madrid, one with Man Utd)
- Portugal Super Cup: 1
- Supercoppa Italiana: 1
- Serie A titles: 1
Ronaldo international honours
- Uefa European Championship titles: 1 (2016)
- Uefa Nations League titles: 1 (2019)
Messi club honours
- La Liga titles: 10
- Copa del Rey: 6
- Spanish Supercup: 7
- Uefa Champions League: 4
- Uefa Super Cup: 3
- Fifa Club World Cup: 3
Messi international honours
- Fifa U-20 World Cup: 1 (2005)
- Olympic Gold Medal: 1 (2008)
Ronaldo vs. Messi: Ballon d’Or wins
- Ronaldo – 5 wins: 2017, 2016, 2014, 2013, 2008
- Messi – 6 wins: 2019, 2015, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009
Messi’s European Golden Shoe wins
- 2009-10: 34 goals
- 2011-12: 50 goals
- 2012-13: 46 goals
- 2016-17: 37 goals
- 2017-18: 34 goals
- 2018-19: 36 goals
Ronaldo’s European Golden Shoe wins
- 2007-08: 31 goals
- 2010-11: 40 goals
- 2013-14: 31 goals (shared with Luis Suarez)
- 2014-15: 48 goals
Club career (excluding friendlies)
- Ronaldo: 619 goals and 192 assists in 828 appearances
- Messi: 620 goals and 240 assists in 708 appearances
- Hat-tricks: Ronaldo 47; Messi 47
All-time career (club and country, but excluding club friendlies)
- Ronaldo: 718 goals and 220 assists in 992 appearances
- Messi: 690 goals and 282 assists in 846 appearances
- Hat-tricks: Ronaldo 56; Messi 53
- Career goal ratio: Ronaldo 0.72; Messi 0.82
- Penalties: Ronaldo 118 (23 missed); Messi 87 (26 missed)
- Club goal ratio: Ronaldo 0.74; Messi 0.88
- Penalties: Ronaldo 107 (17 missed); Messi 72 (22 missed)
International career (friendly and competitive matches)
- Ronaldo: 99 goals and 28 assists in 164 appearances for Portugal
- Messi: 70 goals and 42 assists in 138 appearances for Argentina
- Hat-tricks: Ronaldo 9; Messi 6
- International goal ratio: Ronaldo 0.60; Messi 0.50
- Penalties: Ronaldo 10 (6 missed); Messi 15 (4 missed)
