Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are on the list of the best players in the history of football, mainly for their impact on the game and their ability to win titles. But, as they say, statistics rule.
One common thread between the two is the eternal comparison: who is better, Ronaldo or Messi, and who has scored more goals? BeSoccer Pro answers these questions with its up-to-date and detailed data.
Messi vRonaldo
Following the last match played, Leo Messi has now played 1,062games at professional level. In those games, the Argentine has scored 835 goals. In addition, he has provided a total of 358assists. In other words: 1,193goals have come directly from his boots.
As for Cristiano Ronaldo, his statistics are even better from an absolute point of view. Hehas scored 894goals in 1,225matches, making him the all-time top scorer. A stratospheric achievement, although it cannot be ruled out that Messi, now 35, could take it away from him. In the assists statistics he is worse off, with 219assists, which is why the Portuguese's absolute contribution is lower: he has generated 1,113goals.
Looking at the averages, Leo Messi's stands at 0.79goals and 0.34assists. Cristiano Ronaldo's is 0.73and 0.18, respectively. And that's including his penalty goals.
Club goals: Messi vs Ronaldo
Looking at club matches only, the gap is much narrower. The player from Rosario has managed to score 728goals and provided 315assists. That is to say, 1.043are the ones he has produced directly. All this in a total of 881matches.
How many does Cristiano stand on? Well, the Portuguese, after a total of 990games spread between Sporting, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and Al-Nassr, has scored 765goals and provided 200 assists. All in all, 964goals generated.
Therefore, it remains that Messi, despite having played fewer games, has been involved in70 more goals more than the Portuguese.
Messi vRonaldo's goals during his time at Real Madrid
During the period between 2009 and 2018, Cristiano Ronaldo had some spectacular figures. His time in all competitions wearing Real Madrid's jerseygave him an average of 1.03, as he managed 450 goals in 438 games.
On the other hand, Leo Messi's goal averageat the Camp Nou side during the same period was 0.99 after he scored 22 more goals than the Portuguese, a total of 472, in 476 games.
The Argentinian, despite having scored more times during this period, also played 38 more games than the Portuguese. Therefore, the average in this case favours the current Al-Nassr striker.
Messi vRonaldo goals for Inter Miami and Al-Nassr
Cristiano Ronaldo became a legend at Real Madrid and after the 2017-18 season he asked to leave to start a new spell at Juventus. Something that seemed like it would never happen with Lionel Messi, but which ended up being forced in the summer of 2021 due to FC Barcelona's delicate financial situation. A dramatic farewell that ended with the '10' at Paris Saint-Germain. Days later, it was also confirmed that the Portuguese player was leaving for Manchester United.
Ronaldo made 133 appearances for Juventus, scoring 101 goals in that time. Then, at Old Trafford, he scored 27 after 54 appearances in his second spell. In the first, he scored 119 in 292 games. It remains to be seen how many goals he scores at his new club, Al-Nassr, where he has scored 64 in 70games.
Messi scored 11 goals in his first year with Paris Saint-Germain, five of them in the Champions League, where the club were knocked out in the last 16. That was the Argentinian's first spell outside Spanish football, where he made 778 appearances for the 'Cules'. So far in the 2022-23 season, the '10' has already made 39appearances for PSG and has scored20goals, so he has racked a total of 32goals in 75games for the Parisian side.
In the 2023-24 season, he began a new journey in his career, joining MLS side Inter Miami. He scored 25goals in 29games for the North American team.
Messi vRonaldo goals with their national teams
Regarding the last category, that of national teams, Ronaldo has better figures, although these still reveal the equality in statistics that exists between the two strikers.
The Portuguese, who has made 206appearances and scored 129goals (0.63goals per game), has 25 more appearances for Portugal. In that time he has scored 23more goals than the former Barca player.
As for the Argentina captain, he has registered 180appearances and 106goals, which leaves him with an average of 0.59goals per game. Although at least the PSG playercompensates thanks to the assists, since he has provideda total of 43(0.24 average) to the 19of the Portuguese (0.09).
