Over the years, the football world has witnessed the top competition between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Both have had great success with the teams they have played for, as well as possessing countless individual and collective titles throughout their careers.
In this article, The Sporting News will provide the audience with all the parameters and comparisons they need to know in the careers of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo: Compare goals, assists
Updated on 02/04/2025
| Lionel Messi | Cristiano Ronaldo | |
| 1083 | Match | 1261 |
| 851 | Goal | 923 |
| 59 | Hat-trick | 68 |
| 109 | Penalty* | 170 |
* – does not include penalty shootouts.
Predict the results of CR7’s matches HERE
Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo: Title Comparison
Throughout their careers, both Lionel Messi and Crisitiano Ronaldo have won numerous individual and team titles. The most memorable of these was their time playing in La Liga and facing off against each other in the colors of Real Madrid and Barcelona.
As for Lionel Messi, he has more domestic titles with Barcelona. However, Cristiano Ronaldo is superior in the Champions League with Real Madrid. In terms of the national team, Messi is the name that won the 2022 World Cup title.
In terms of individual titles, the Ballon d’Or race between these two players over the past 20 years has been the most exciting duel in the history of world football. Ronaldo has 5 Ballon d’Ors, while Messi has been named for this title 8 times.
Updated on 02/04/2025
| Title | Messi | Ronaldo |
| National Championship | 12 | 7 |
| Domestic Cup | 15 | 12 |
| International club titles | 11 | 12 |
| National team international titles | 2 | 2 |
| Olympics | 1 | 0 |
| Golden Ball | 8 | 5 |
| FIFA World Player of the Year | 1 | 1 |
| FIFA The Best | 3 | 2 |
| World Cup Golden Ball | 2 | 0 |
| European Golden Shoe | 6 | 4 |
Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo: Head to Head Stats
When Cristiano Ronaldo was still at Man United, the two had a few occasions to compete in the Champions League. However, the competition was pushed many times, after Ronaldo joined Real Madrid in the summer of 2009.
Since then, El Clasico has also been a competition between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, attracting the attention of many fans around the world.
At the national team level, the two teams have never had the opportunity to compete in any official tournament. Therefore, both sides have to rely on friendly matches between Argentina and Portugal to serve the fans.
Updated on 02/04/2025
| Tournament | Match | Messi wins | Ronaldo wins | Peace | Messi’s goal | Ronaldo’s goal |
| La Liga | 18 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 9 |
| Champions League | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Spanish King’s Cup | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Spanish Super Cup | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 4 |
| International friendlies | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Club friendly | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Total | 37 | 17 | 11 | 9 | 23 | 23 |
BIG PRIZES when predicting match results HERE
Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo: Record in head-to-head matches
Updated on 02/04/2025
| Day | Tournament | Match | Messi | Ronaldo |
| January 19, 2023 | Friendly | Riyadh Season Team 4- 5 PSG | 1 table | 2 tables |
| 12/09/2020 | Champions League | Barcelona 0- 3 Juventus | — | 2 tables |
| 05/06/2018 | La Liga | Barcelona 2-2 Real Madrid | 1 table | 1 table |
| December 23, 2017 | La Liga | Real Madrid 0- 3 Barcelona | — | 1 goal, 1 assist |
| August 13, 2017 | Spanish Super Cup | Barcelona 1- 3 Real Madrid | 1 table | 1 table |
| April 23, 2017 | La Liga | Real Madrid 2- 3 Barcelona | 2 tables | — |
| December 3, 2016 | La Liga | Barcelona 1-1 Real Madrid | — | — |
| 02/04/2016 | La Liga | Barcelona 1- 2 Real Madrid | — | 1 table |
| November 21, 2015 | La Liga | Real Madrid 0- 4 Barcelona | — | — |
| March 22, 2015 | La Liga | Barcelona 2 -1 Real Madrid | 1 assist | 1 table |
| November 18, 2014 | Friendly | Argentina 0- 1 Portugal | — | — |
| October 25, 2014 | La Liga | Real Madrid 3 -1 Barcelona | — | 1 table |
| March 23, 2014 | La Liga | Real Madrid 3- 4 Barcelona | 3 tables | 1 table |
| October 26, 2013 | La Liga | Barcelona 2 -1 Real Madrid | — | 1 assist |
| 02/03/2013 | La Liga | Real Madrid 2 -1 Barcelona | 1 table | — |
| February 26, 2013 | King’s Cup | Barcelona 1- 3 Real Madrid | — | 2 tables |
| January 30, 2013 | King’s Cup | Real Madrid 1-1 Barcelona | 1 assist | — |
| October 7, 2012 | La Liga | Barcelona 2-2 Real Madrid | 2 tables | 2 tables |
| August 29, 2012 | Spanish Super Cup | Real Madrid 2 -1 Barcelona | 1 table | 1 table |
| August 22, 2012 | Spanish Super Cup | Barcelona 3 -2 Real Madrid | 1 table | 1 table |
| April 21, 2012 | La Liga | Barcelona 1- 2 Real Madrid | — | 1 table |
| January 25, 2012 | King’s Cup | Barcelona 2-2 Real Madrid | 1 assist | 1 table |
| January 18, 2012 | King’s Cup | Real Madrid 1- 2 Barcelona | 1 assist | 1 table |
| 10/12/2011 | La Liga | Real Madrid 1- 3 Barcelona | — | 1 assist |
| August 17, 2011 | Spanish Super Cup | Barcelona 3 -2 Real Madrid | 2 goals, 1 assist | 1 table |
| August 14, 2011 | Spanish Super Cup | Real Madrid 2-2 Barcelona | 1 goal, 1 assist | — |
| 05/03/2011 | Champions League | Barcelona 1-1 Real Madrid | — | — |
| April 27, 2011 | Champions League | Real Madrid 0- 2 Barcelona | 2 tables | — |
| April 20, 2011 | King’s Cup | Barcelona 0- 1 Real Madrid | — | 1 table |
| April 16, 2011 | La Liga | Real Madrid 1-1 Barcelona | 1 table | 1 table |
| 02/09/2011 | Friendly | Argentina 2 -1 Portugal | 1 table | 1 table |
| November 29, 2010 | La Liga | Barcelona 5 -0 Real Madrid | 2 assists | — |
| April 10, 2010 | La Liga | Real Madrid 0- 2 Barcelona | 1 table | — |
| November 29, 2009 | La Liga | Barcelona 1 -0 Real Madrid | — | — |
| May 27, 2009 | Champions League | Man United 2 -0 Barcelona | 1 table | — |
| April 29, 2008 | Champions League | Man United 1-0 Barcelona | — | — |
| April 23, 2008 | Champions League | Barcelona 0-0 Manchester United | — | (1 missed penalty) |
| Total | 18 wins 24 goals | 12 wins 24 goals |
