To date, the legendary rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo continues to excite fans and bookmakers as well. Despite both players having left European football, their influence remains significant in the online sports betting scene. The betting markets are actively engaged with their ongoing careers, feeding fans with exciting turns of events. We’ll explore both players to determine who the bookmakers are backing so far in 2025.
Bookmakers’ Angle
Leading betting platforms like GGBET have set odds on the potential retirement of these football icons. At the moment, Cristiano Ronaldo is at 4/1 to retire in 2025. On the other hand, Lionel Messi stands at 5/1. These odds suggest that bookmakers consider Ronaldo slightly more likely to retire within the year. This decision is influenced by their age and career history. Below are their performance metrics in 2025.
Lionel Messi
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Total Goals: 863
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Total Assists: 382
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Total Appearances: 1102
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Ballon d’Or Wins: 8
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International Goals: 112 in 191 appearances
At the age of 37, Messi has easily adapted to Major League Soccer with Inter Miami. In this calendar year alone, he has featured in 14 matches, scored 10 goals and provided 4 assists. His leadership was essential in Inter Miami’s 3-1 victory over LACF in the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter-finals.
Notably, he scored his first free-kick goal of the 2025 MSL season during a 3-3 draw against Philadelphia Union. This marked his 67th free-kick goal. Thus surpassing legends such as David Beckham and Ronaldinho.
Cristiano Ronaldo
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Total Goals: 936
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Total Assists: 257
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Total Appearances: 1279
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Ballon d’Or Wins: 5
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International Goals: 136 in 219 appearances
Now at 40, Cristiano Ronaldo keeps defying age with his performance for Al-Nassr and the Portugal national team. This year alone, he has played 17 matches for club and country, scored 15 goals and provided 1 assist. In addition, he scored in Portugal’s UEFA Nations League quarter-final against Denmark. Domestically, he leads the Saudi League’s top scorer chart with 21 goals this season. This further cements his position as one of the greatest goalscorers in football history
Betting Markets and Specials
Betting platforms have introduced numerous specials related to Messi and Ronaldo. First is the probability of them playing together. The odds of Messi and Ronaldo playing for the same team in an official match is 12/1. Besides this, another speciality is Messi’s goal records. Bets are available on whether Messi will surpass Cristiano Ronaldo’s career goal tally. The odds of this are 9/1.
Moreover, promotional betting deals depict Messi’s influence in matches. For example, ahead of the Inter Miami vs Montreal MLS match, a bookmark offered odds at 8/13 for Messi to score anytime and 5/2 for him to score first or last.
Transfer Speculations
Ronaldo’s contract with Al-Nassr is set to expire midway through the Club World Cup. Hence, bookmakers are actively speculating on his next move. Below are the odds.
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MLS Team: 3/1
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Sporting Lisbon: 3/1
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Al-Hilal: 4/1
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Galatasaray: 17/2
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Napoli: 14/1
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Manchester United: 25/1
A possible move to the MLS could reignite the rivalry with Messi. Thus adding to another chapter of their story competition. On the other hand, Messi appears to settle at Inter Miami. In this case, bookmakers have set odds on various career milestones.
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To score 1000+ career goals: +1000
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To win a 5th UEFA Champions League: +2500
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To score at World Cup 2026: -350
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To play for a European Club Again: +125
These odds reflect the anticipation concerning Messi’s further achievements. It equally highlights his potential career decisions.
Impact on Sports Betting Trends
Both players majorly influence sports betting dynamics. In fact, Cristiano Ronaldo is famous for his goal-scoring prowess. Thus, he influences markets like first-goal scorer and multi-goal bets. His presence alone usually leads to spikes in betting activity, especially during high-profile matches.
Ronaldo’s aggressive attacking style and potential for clutch performances make him a favourite for bettors who enjoy placing risky bets in late goals or comeback victories. His reputation as a penalty and free-kick specialist increases betting activity in markets related to set-piece goals.
Likewise, Lionel Messi’s consistent playmaking and goal contributions is quite impressive. This makes him a favourite in betting markets. We’re referring to the ones that are especially concentrated on assists and overall performance metrics. His balanced offensive input equally attracts bettors seeking steady returns.
Messi’s playmaking consistency leads to steady betting trends. His ability to both finish and facilitate remains a defining and unique trait of his legendary career. Thus, he is a reliable choice for bettors who concentrate on assists and overall goal contributions.
Anticipate More from the Central Figures in the Football World
In 2025, both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo remain key figures in the football world. This is due to their on-field performances and their incredible influence on sports betting trends and market dynamics. Bookmakers keep monitoring their careers closely to offer odds on possible transfers, career milestones, and individual match performances. Therefore, as they keep denying age and expectations, their legacies are further fixated in captivating enthusiasts.