The rivalry between two of the most famous and successful football players in the world is almost as well-known as they are. Both of these names have solidified their place in history as two of the greatest players ever in football, but their contrasting styles have been the focus of attention throughout their careers.
Messi and Ronaldo are often compared and pitted against each other because of their similar ages, career lengths, successes, and time spent playing for rival teams, Barcelona and Real Madrid.
ProfitDuel has been looking into the history and the impact of their iconic rivalry, as well as when it started to wane.
Successes
Messi and Ronaldo make up two of the best, most decorated players in the history of football, with 80 official trophies between them, with Ronaldo accounting for 34 of them and Messi claiming the other 46. Lionel Messi has scored over 850 goals, and Cristiano Ronaldo is slightly ahead of him with over 950 goals, approaching the significant milestone of 1000 career goals.
According to the International Federation of Football History and Statistics, the pair are the only two players in top-level association football competitions to score over 800 goals each in their careers for their national teams and their clubs, too. Only 26 other players have scored over 500 goals in this category, which demonstrates how outstanding the two players are.
The two players are commended for different aspects of their football playing styles, as both excel in different areas. For example, Ronaldo has received frequent praise for his physical attributes, goal-scoring skills, and his major impact across multiple leagues. Messi is celebrated by critics and fans alike for his exceptional and unique blend of dribbling, playmaking, and goalscoring.
Hat tricks
The record-setting pair have managed to achieve an eyewatering 126 hat-tricks across their careers! Out of the two players, Messi is responsible for 60, and Ronaldo can claim 66 of them; these stats show why both of them are admired worldwide.
Both Messi and Ronaldo have managed to score 5 goals in one game twice. This is a testament to their talents and skills, which they have honed to perfection over the decades.
The difference between the two is highlighted when looking at ‘perfect’ hat tricks. A perfect hat trick is when a hat trick consists of 1 right-footed goal, 1 left-footed goal, and 1 headed goal. Ronaldo has managed to perfect these, with 10 being credited to him, across his career. The fact that he has managed 10 of these is a testament to his incredible ability to accuracy and power on both feet, and also, most impressively, his headers.
30 of Messi’s hat tricks have been at home, which could be a demonstration of his and his supporters’ encouragement. Ronaldo follows the same trend when it comes to hat-trick successes. He has scored 42 hat-tricks at home, again speaking to the encouragement and comfort offered at his home stadium.
Moments like these are part of what made their rivalry so captivating for fans, with each performance adding another layer to the debate. In many ways, following their achievements required a close eye on statistics, form, and outcomes, not unlike how some fans analyse patterns in different activities, including structured approaches such as matched betting, where careful tracking and understanding of outcomes play a key role.
Individual awards and accolades
Both players have been recognised for their incredible football abilities and their technical skills on the pitch. Despite differences in their styles and personalities, they share a strong drive to be the best they can be and to represent their teams as effectively as possible. Because of these factors, they have earned many awards over the years.
Ronaldo has been awarded the European Golden Boot 4 times, the FIFA World Player of the Year 5 times, and the Ballon d’Or 5 times. Ronaldo holds the record for the most Ballon d'Or nominations, with 18, while Messi is the second most nominated footballer, with 16. Messi has slightly better statistics for these awards, having won 6 European Golden Boot awards, 6 FIFA World Player of the Year awards, and, finally, The Ballon d’Or 8 times. In fact, Messi won four consecutive Ballon d'Or awards between 2009 and 2012
The Ballon d’Or is a highly esteemed European Football award which is widely acknowledged as football’s most highly prestigious individual award. The award was first established in 1956 by the French magazine, France Football. It was originally going to be only for European players, but it expanded its coverage to players globally in 1995, and it has been heavily dominated by mega icons like Messi and Ronaldo.
End of the rivalry
Both players have spoken highly of each other in public, with Ronaldo answering claims that he doesn’t like Messi by telling MARCA, "We don't have a relationship outside the world of football, just as we don't with a lot of other players" he also hopes that in years to come, they can laugh about it together.
Neither player has played for European teams since the 23-24 season, which quieted talk of a rivalry, as it was the first time since 2002 that neither had played for European teams. In September 2024, neither player was nominated for the Ballon d’Or for the first time since 2003; journalists used this opportunity to express that this could signify the end of a two-decade-long rivalry in football.