Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are two of the greatest players in football history, and the race for goals between them is always a hot topic of interest to fans.
Ronaldo currently leads the all-time scoring list with a total of 925 career goals (including club and international), while Messi is right behind with 852. That puts Messi 73 goals behind Ronaldo – a significant gap, but not one that cannot be closed, especially given their form and the amount of playing time they have left.
In terms of numbers, Ronaldo played a total of 1,266 matches to score 925 goals, averaging 0.73 goals per match. Meanwhile, Messi scored 852 goals in 1,086 matches, with a slightly higher efficiency of 0.78 goals per match. This shows that Messi has the ability to score more consistently and effectively in each appearance.
Ronaldo, now 40 and playing for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, has maintained his impressive form with 20 goals in 25 games this season. Messi, two years younger, plays for Inter Miami in the MLS and has continued to shine with 11 goals in 13 games since February. The age difference and the number of games played (Ronaldo has 158 more than Messi) are important factors to consider when assessing Messi’s ability to surpass Ronaldo.
To surpass Ronaldo, Messi needs to score 72 more goals from now. On his current form, he averages around 0.86 goals per game for Inter Miami and Argentina. If he maintains this performance and plays around 80 more games, Messi can definitely catch up and surpass Ronaldo.
If Messi plays another 2-3 seasons (about 30-40 games per season), he can reach the required number. On the other hand, Ronaldo, although still scoring regularly, at the age of 40, his ability to maintain peak performance for a long time is not high. If Ronaldo retires in the next 1-2 years, Messi will have a great chance to surpass him, as long as he continues to play and avoids serious injuries.
There are, however, factors to consider. Firstly, MLS – where Messi plays – is less competitive than the European leagues that Ronaldo once dominated, which could make it easier for Messi to score. Ronaldo, on the other hand, is playing in the Saudi Pro League, which is not as competitive, but his age could see him decline in performance in the future. Secondly, Messi often gives up penalties to his teammates, while Ronaldo is a penalty specialist (168 of his 917 goals have come from penalties), which could affect Messi’s total.
In terms of all-round talent, Messi not only scores but also creates more assists (381 compared to Ronaldo’s 257), showing that he contributes more to the overall play. If only counting goals from open play (excluding penalties), Messi has surpassed Ronaldo (740 compared to 739). Therefore, in the future, if Messi maintains his form and extends his career for a few more years, he is completely capable of surpassing Ronaldo in terms of total goals. This race is not just a story of numbers, but also a testament to the perseverance and extraordinary talent of two contemporary football legends.
