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It could be a long debate depending on who you ask, and which metrics are used for ranking footballers in the present and past.
Many will agree that Lionel Messi, the Argentine forward, is number one. But many others will say Cristiano Cristiano, the Portuguese striker, is. Ronaldo can’t match the feats that Messi has accomplished.
Ronaldo may still try to beat Messi’s record, even though both are getting older. Messi is the number one footballer in 2012 because he scored 91 goals. according Goal.
Messi is the winner of eight Ballon d’Ors, compared to Cristiano’s only five. Messi is the most likely candidate to win the Super Ballon d’Or if the award is presented for a second consecutive time.
Ronaldo’s career has seen him score 938 goals, and he has also had 257 assists in his 1281 appearances. One-hundred and fifty-five of those balls have come via penalty.
Messi’s professional career has seen him make 173 fewer appearances. However, he has scored 866 more goals and 384 more assists. 110 of Messi’s total career goals have been scored through penalty kicks.
Ronaldo’s total is 1,195, whereas Messi has 1,250.
Ronaldo cannot match this record
Messi has now extended a record that is unbreakable and impossible to match. Even Ronaldo cannot compete with it.
Lionel Messi never lost in the group stages of any football tournament during his professional life. Messi has managed to maintain the most amazing statistical feats of world football even though he entered against Inter Miami. according World Soccer Talk.
“Across all competitions—at both the club and international level—Messi has now successfully advanced from the group stage in 33 consecutive tournaments: 19 UEFA Champions League campaigns, 7 Copa Americas, 5 World Cups, 1 Leagues Cup, and now the 2025 Club World Cup,” the sports news outlet said.
In the history of football, no other player has ever matched this number of appearances at group stage without being eliminated. Messi is now the greatest footballer of all time.
Across all competitions, including at both club and international levels, Messi has now successfully advanced from the group stage in 33 consecutive tournaments: 19 UEFA Champions League campaigns, 7 Copa América tournaments, 5 FIFA World Cups, 1 Leagues Cup, and now the 2025 Club World Cup, World Soccer Talk added.
Messi’s unprecedented milestone
Ronald is dubbed Mr Champions because of his dominance in UEFA competitions. However, when it comes down to consistency at the group stage, the Portuguese falls behind his eternal rival.
Ronaldo has been eliminated in the group phase of his career five times: at the 2004 Olympic Games, the 2005–06 Champions League with Manchester United, the 2014 World Cup, and in the 2020–21 and 2022–23 editions of the UEFA Nations League. Ronaldo’s career will not be able match Messi at this particular milestone.
