LM 10
CR 7
Lionel Messi is the world's best male footballer once more, having won the Ballon d'Or for a record seventh time. The Argentine, who left Barcelona this summer for Paris Saint-Germain, received the prestigious trophy on November 29 at a ceremony in Paris.
Messi had another record-breaking year for club and country. In the calendar year, the 34-year-old led Argentina to its first major international title, the Copa America.
"I'm really proud to win the France Football Ballon d'Or again," Messi said in Paris. "Winning it for the seventh time is incredible."
What people say about Messi
“Messi does not need his right foot. He only uses the left and he’s still the best in the world. Imagine if he also used his right foot, then we would have serious problems.” - Zlatan Ibrahimovic
What people say about Cristiano
“He is the best. The best in the world, yes. Probably the best. I saw Maradona a couple of times. I never saw Pele." - Jose Mourinho
Let us take a look at the all-time stats of both Messi and Cristiano
All-time career (club and country, but excluding club friendlies)
- Ronaldo: 799 goals and 228 assists in 1,094 appearances
- Messi: 756 goals and 318 assists in 947 appearances
- Hat-tricks: Ronaldo 58; Messi 55
- Career goal ratio: Ronaldo 0.73; Messi 0.80
- Penalties: Ronaldo 141 (28 missed); Messi 101 (29 missed)
Club career (excluding friendlies)
- Ronaldo: 684 goals and 197 assists in 910 appearances
- Messi: 676 goals and 281 assists in 789 appearances
- Hat-tricks: Ronaldo 48; Messi 48
- Club goal ratio: Ronaldo 0.75; Messi 0.86
- Penalties: Ronaldo 125 (21 missed); Messi 83 (25 missed)
International careers (friendly and competitive matches)
- Ronaldo: 115 goals and 31 assists in 184 appearances for Portugal
- Messi: 80 goals and 47 assists in 158 appearances for Argentina
- Hat-tricks: Ronaldo 10; Messi 7
- International goal ratio: Ronaldo 0.63; Messi 0.51
- Penalties: Ronaldo 16 (7 missed); Messi 18 (4 missed)
2020-2021 final club statistics
- Messi (for Barcelona): 38 goals, 12 assists, 47 appearances, 1 red card
- Ronaldo (for Juventus): 36 goals, 5 assists, 44 appearances
2019-2020 final club statistics
- Messi (for Barcelona): 31 goals, 25 assists, 44 appearances
- Ronaldo (for Juventus): 37 goals, 5 assists, 46 appearances
2018-19 final club statistics
- Messi (for Barcelona): 51 goals, 19 assists, 50 matches
- Ronaldo (for Juventus): 28 goals, 10 assists, 43 matches
Career red cards: Messi 3, Ronaldo 11
Messi spent 21 years with FC Barcelona but has now begun a new chapter in his career by joining Paris Saint-Germain. He won the Spanish La Liga title ten times and the Uefa Champions League four times during his time at Barcelona. He hopes to win the UCL with PSG again. "My goal and dream is to win the Champions League again," he stated. "I believe this club is ready to compete for all trophies." This is my goal; I want to keep growing and winning titles, which is why I joined this club."
Argentina's Messi has a total of 158 caps for his country, scoring 80 goals. Argentina won the Copa America in 2021, with Messi scoring the most goals. After winning a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Chile will win the Copa America in 2021.
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has played for Sporting Lisbon (2002-03), Manchester United (2003-09), Real Madrid (2009-2018), and Juventus (2018-2021). He made a sensational return to Old Trafford during the summer transfer window of 2021. His trophy cabinet includes five Champions League winners' medals, as well as league titles in England, Spain, and Italy.
With 115 goals in 184 matches for Portugal, Ronaldo is the leading goalscorer in men's international football. In 2016, he helped his country win the European Championship.
Lionel Messi
- Age: 34
- Born: 24 June 1987
- Clubs: Paris Saint-Germain (2021-present); Barcelona (2004-2021)
- Nationality: Argentine
- Ballon d’Or wins: 7 wins (2021, 2019, 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)
- Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award: 1 (2019, joint winner with Lewis Hamilton)
- Captained Argentina in their 2021 Copa America win
Cristiano Ronaldo
- Age: 36
- Born: 5 February 1985
- Clubs: Manchester United (2021-present); Juventus (2018-2021); 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
- Captained Portugal in their Euro 2016 win
- Top goalscorer in men’s international football (115 goals)
- All-time top goalscorer in the Uefa Champions League (140 goals)
Messi club honours
- Clubs: Paris Saint-Germain (2021-present); Barcelona (2004-2021)
- La Liga titles: 10
- Copa del Rey: 7
- Spanish Supercup: 7
- Uefa Champions League: 4
- Uefa Super Cup: 3
- Fifa Club World Cup: 3
Messi international honours with Argentina
- 2021 Copa America winner and golden boot winner
- Fifa Under-20 World Cup: 1 (2005)
- Olympic Gold Medal: 1 (2008)
- Record number of appearances for Argentina: 158
Ronaldo club honours
- Clubs: Manchester United (2021-present); Juventus (2018-2021); Real Madrid (2009-2018); Manchester United (2003-09); Sporting Lisbon (2002-03)
- 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: 2
- Serie A titles: 2
Ronaldo international honours with Portugal
- Uefa European Championship titles: 1 (2016)
- Uefa Nations League titles: 1 (2019)
- All-time leading scorer in men’s international football (115 goals)
- All-time leading scorer in European Championship history (14 goals in 25 tournament matches)
- Euro 2020 golden boot winner
Ronaldo vs. Messi: Ballon d’Or wins
- Ronaldo - 5 wins: 2017, 2016, 2014, 2013, 2008
- Messi - 7 wins: 2021, 2019, 2015, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009
Messi’s European Golden Shoe awards
- 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 awards
- 2007-08: 31 goals
- 2010-11: 40 goals
- 2013-14: 31 goals (shared with Luis Suarez)
- 2014-15: 48 goals
Despite the fact that Messi and Ronaldo are both natural forwards, their profiles are quite different. During their early careers, they were virtually identical in terms of dribbling and finishing abilities. However, as time passes, Messi appears to care more about how the ball is delivered, causing him to be plotted as a playmaker at times. Ronaldo maintains his original style as a goal-scoring machine.
It's just who they are, and there are no right or wrong answers. Messi was raised with Tiki-Taka, a team sport that requires a high level of cooperation. That is most likely why Messi is more interested in vision and clever passes. Ronaldo's fighter mentality and fiery personality force him to carry the team in terms of goal scoring. Both are obviously gifted, but Messi is more likely to be 'gifted' and Ronaldo is 'trained.'
Winning Copa America in 2021 would also mean completing Messi's career puzzle. He would be constantly compared to Ronaldo, who had won the Euros if he did not have a major tournament trophy. Fortunately, he not only won the Copa America trophy after three previous final defeats but he was also named top scorer and player of the tournament.
All of Messi's fears and doubts have finally been removed from his shoulders. The football world has witnessed Messi's ability to contribute to his country through football. I'm sure Ronaldo is pleased with his colleague's recent accomplishment. That is how top-level athletes demonstrate sportsmanship to one another.
So now it's official. Messi and Ronaldo have won the majority of available trophies (with the exception of the World Cup), both for the club and national team. Nature has found its equilibrium, as it should. Let's stop comparing them, put an end to the debate, and just say
