Ronaldo vs Messi: Which One Is The GOAT in Football?
The conflict about who the GOAT of football is still hotly debated. The two greatest players alive, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, are always mentioned side by side because they are at the top of the list, at least in 2024. With some counting heavily on Ronaldo and some on Messi, we want to ride the wave and find out who is genuinely the best.
The guide below compares their achievements head to head to clarify the winner. If you are as curious as we are, scroll below! But before that, what do you think? Who is better, Ronaldo or Messi 2024?
1. All Time Goals
Both Ronaldo and Messi are the ace of their respective clubs. These legends bring their team numerous winners thanks to their accurate goals. However, who scores more? Turns out, Cristiano Ronaldo won with 891 over Messi's 833.
Ronaldo scores many goals while donning a white jersey. Yes! CR7 scored 450 goals with Real Madrid, 145 with Manchester United, 128 while he played in Portugal, 62 with Al Nassr, and 5 with Sporting Club.
On the other hand, Messi scored 672 goals with Barcelona, 102 while he was in Argentina, 32 with PSG, and currently scored 23 with Inter Miami. Interestingly, while Ronaldo has a higher total, he somehow failed to break the 30-goal mark in certain seasons. Conversely, Messi has remained consistent thus far.
2. Individual Awards
We all more than know that receiving an award is every celebrity's wish. The award isn't just a trophy but a mark that solidifies identity and an honor that makes them stand out more internationally. These champions, however, also pray for the best every year.
Luckily, the awards are statistics we can use to measure these two's reputations. Accordingly, the record below shows each player's award list from three prestigious awards. As a result, Messi receives more awards than Ronaldo. See the table below!
| Ballon d'Or | FIFA World Player of the Year | European Golden Shoe | |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Lionel Messi | 8 | 8 | 6 |
3. Champions League Statistics
Champions League statistics can also compare Ronaldo and Messi's performance. We sort the 2022-2023 stats as 2024 hasn't ended. See the table below:
| Champions League Stats | Cristiano Ronaldo | Lionel Messi |
| Appearances | 183 | 163 |
| Goals | 140 | 129 |
| Goals per game | 0.77 | 0.79 |
As you see from the table, Ronaldo is the all-time leading goalscorer, with 140 compared to Messi's 129. However, Messi isn't far behind. He has a better goal-per-game ratio of 0.79. Lastly, Ronaldo holds the most appearances, surpassing Iker Casillas's record.
4. Red Cards
Being the greatest player in the soccer industry doesn't mean this legend is exempt from being sanctioned. A red card isn't a light warrant. The player who gets a red card is immediately ejected from the match, which can have severe consequences for the team.
In the all-time career of Ronaldo, he got 12 times red cards. There were eight from the direct red cards and four from the dismissal of double yellow cards. Contrariwise, Messi has been sent off three times, twice for Argentina and once when he was in Barcelona. So, CR7 had more red cards to date.
5. World Cup Statistics
The World Cup is a tournament of national teams that determines the world champions. It is the most popular sporting event, attracting billions of television viewers worldwide every tournament. Therefore, we believe their World Cup Statistics are also significant stats to be compared. See below!
| World Cup Stats | Cristiano Ronaldo | Lionel Messi |
| Appearances | 22 | 26 |
| Goals | 8 | 13 |
| Goals per game | 0.38 | 0.50 |
The table above clearly shows the winner. Lionel Messi dominates the stats by having more goals, appearances, and goals per game. There isn't much in Ronaldo's stats, but Ronaldo also did better in their World Cup performance as a reliable player.
Conclusion
We believe the Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Lionel Messi battle will never end. All because they still play football and will win trophy after trophy, either with their national team or club. So, who is better, Ronaldo or Messi in 2024? No one knows. While Ronaldo may be great in the Champions League, Messi will dominate the World Cup. Both of these legends will be remembered forever for breaking records.