The Messi–Ronaldo rivalry, or Ronaldo–Messi rivalry, is a sporting rivalry in football encouraged by the media and fans that involves Argentine footballer Lionel Messi and Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, mainly for being contemporaries and for their similar records and sporting success. Together they have achieved various historical milestones in the sport, coming to be considered as two of the best players of all time.
All Time League
Messi Stats All Time League All Time
- 485 Goals
- 213 Assists
- 555 Apps
- 93 mins per goal
- 65 mins per goal contribution
Ronaldo Stats All Time League All Time
- 497 Goals
- 144 Assists
- 647 Apps
- 104 mins per goal
- 81 mins per goal contribution
Ronaldo vs Messi – League Goals
Only 12 goals separate Lionel Messi ( 485 goals ) from Cristiano Ronaldo, who has scored 497 goals. Argentine star has a better goal ratio than Portuguese star , clocking in at 93 minutes as opposed to 104.
Ronaldo vs Messi – League Assists
When comparing assists, Lionel Messi outperforms Cristiano Ronaldo by a wide margin. Ronaldo has 144 assists compared to Messi’s 213 assists, a difference of 69.
Messi vs Ronaldo – Total League Goals Contribution ( Goals + Assists )
Lionel Messi: 485 goals + 213 assists = 698
65 mins per goal contribution
Cristiano Ronaldo: 497 Goals + 144 Assists = 641
81 mins per goal contribution
Last updated on 8 October 2022
In a 2016 interview, Ronaldo commented on the rivalry by saying: “I think we push each other sometimes in the competition, this is why the competition is so high. “Alex Ferguson, Ronaldo’s manager during his time at Manchester United, opined: “I don’t think the rivalry against each other bothers them. I think they have their own personal pride in terms of wanting to be the best. “Messi has denied any rivalry, and blames the media for creating it, stating that “only the media, the press, who wants us to be at loggerheads but I’ve never fought with Cristiano.”
After Ronaldo’s departure from Real Madrid to Juventus, Messi admitted to missing him, saying: “I miss Cristiano. Although it was a bit difficult to see him win trophies, he gave La Liga prestige.” During a joint interview at the UEFA Player of the Year ceremony in 2019, Ronaldo said he would like to “have dinner together in the future“, to which Messi later replied: “If I get an invitation, why not?”
Also Read: Who has scored the most Champions League hat-tricks?
Also Read: Champions League all-time top scorers: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski