It’s hard to find topics, debates or arguments that enrage fans like that of Ronaldo vs Messi. The two icons have played at a level above their peers for over ten years.
They have set themselves apart from the rest with the ridiculous numbers they produce year after year. They have also won the biggest individual titles with both winning five Ballon d’Or’s each in the last 11 years.
Modric’s win in 2018 was the first time since 2007 that neither Ronaldo nor Messi won the individual award. However, the two football gods are back in reckoning this year and are expected to be in the top three when the winners are announced later this year.
Despite their advanced years, the two are not slowing down and they showed that for their national teams during the recent international break.
Cristiano Ronaldo is just a goal away from scoring a century of goals for Portugal after scoring a hattrick against Lithuania and one against Luxembourg in the Euro 2020 qualifiers.
Not to be outshined by his rival, Messi scored his 69th and 70th goal in Argentina’s games against Brazil and Uruguay respectively.
The Barcelona captain missed Albiceleste’s September and October international friendlies after he was banned by CONMEBOL for three months. But on his return, he looked like he has never been away.
His first came in the win over Brazil, finishing from a rebound after his initial spot-kick had been saved by Alisson Becker. His second also came from the spot, but this time he was successful at the first attempt.
While both Messi and Ronaldo reached impressive landmarks for their countries, there have been debates on which is more impressive, so we take a look.
Although neither player does not select teams they play against, stats show that 26.09% of Messi’s international goals have come against teams in the top ten of FIFA rankings.
International goals:
🇵🇹 Cristiano Ronaldo – 99
🇦🇷 Lionel Messi – 69% of goals scored against nations currently inside the top 10 FIFA's World rankings
🇵🇹 Cristiano Ronaldo – 8.08%
🇦🇷 Lionel Messi – 26.09% pic.twitter.com/Zora4KpTPB— Coral (@Coral) November 18, 2019
Meanwhile, just 8.08% of Ronaldo’s goals have come against the top ten teams in the world. Breaking it further down, 56 of Messi’s international’s goals have been against teams in the top 50, while just 28 of Ronaldo’s 99 goals have come against teams in the top 50.
https://twitter.com/BT_Stats/status/1196696224331636736
Lithuania is the country Ronaldo has scored the most goals against (7), while Messi has scored more (5) against Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay than any other team.
The highest-ranked team Ronaldo has goals against is Sweden (5) followed by Netherlands (4). Brazil are the highest-ranked team Messi has scored against most (5), followed by Uruguay and Paraguay (5).
It should be noted that Ronaldo has scored at least two or more times against these teams, Spain, Belgium, Denmark, Russia and Switzerland.
Messi meanwhile, has found the back of the net at least two or more times against Spain, Switzerland, Nigeria and Mexico.
Cameroon are the highest-ranked African team Ronaldo has scored against most (2), followed by Ghana (1). Nigeria are the highest-ranked African team Messi has found success against most (3), and all the three goals came at the World Cup.
Ronaldo's international goals 🆚 Messi's international goals
🐐🆚🐐 pic.twitter.com/3U9sPGJFK1
— GOAL (@goal) November 19, 2019
Having taken a look at the statistics, it will be fair to say Messi’s numbers are better with the majority of the Argentine’s goals coming against top football nations compared to Ronaldo who has scored a chunk of his goals against teams outside the top 50.
However, it is important to put things into perspective. The format UEFA applies in their qualifying competitions means Ronaldo goals are more likely to come against low-level oppositions.
South America is made up of just ten countries where football is like a religion. These ten countries are better than a quarter of teams in Europe, so it is normal for Messi’s goals to come against high-quality teams.
Nevertheless, it is time fans of these two greats stop with the comparison, and accept they are fortunate to witness two of the sporting greats in this century.
la nota esta bien exepto por que no comentan lo mas importante… la mitad de los goles de messi son en partidos amistosos… en los partidos de competicion los numeros de messi son muy bajos, mientras en los amistosos son bastante buenos… crsitiano es todo lo contrario.
“Nevertheless, it is time fans of these two greats stop with the comparison, and accept they are fortunate to witness two of the sporting greats in this century.”
If that’s the case why are you guys comparing them?
Haha exactly! Propoganda machine!
You forgot to mention that most of Messi’s goals have come in friendly matches compared to CR7’s which come in competitive matches.
Looks like an agenda against Christiano Ronaldo.
It’s amazing how “stats” can be used to lie.
They used the CURRENT rankings of countries rather than the rankings of each country at the TIME that Ronaldo scored on them.
It’s intentionally misleading.
They’ve not used the rankings at all. They’ve just listed a breakdown of goals by these 2 greats against different teams…
This skewed stat openly details how it is created in favor of Messi. Its openly comparing ALL goals of Messi’s and ALL goals of Ronaldo’s are the international level with the CURRENT top 10 ranked nations. As any pundit knows, yearly, teams fluctuate in and out of the top 10. 5-10 years ago, when Ronaldo and Messi were still scoring for their national sides, the top 10 were ranked differently. Sweden ranked higher, Netherlands ranked higher, Portugal ranked FAR lower, Argentina also ranked higher.
Why are these not being put into perspective? Portugal really become a top 5 team in the rankings in 2016. Prior to that it was top 10 at the very best, but usually hanging out of the top 10 while Argentina was in the top 10.
Let’s also mention Messi scored basically all of his goals against Brazil in friendlies when Brazil were not fielding their best squads.
It’s without a doubt that Cristiano Ronaldo is the far better player for his country. Far more decisive. And this shows through the goals and assists he has as well as the international trophies he has won.
stats don’t lie brother. cr7 scores bucket loads against minnows in europe whereas there are not a lot of weak south american teams
ha ha this is totally against Ronaldo its all about goals against low teams but not never mentioned number of matches messi played against top teams he has spent more than15 match to score 7 goals against Brazil lol
Brazil were not in their best squad???? Go n check the list of all the players that Brazil squad played against……
This post is so ironical in itself. A messi fanboy’s article. Go and study kid instead of giving such stupid comarison and then telling not to compare.