Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are undoubtedly two of the greatest players of all time, but how do their international records stack up against one another?
Both players have won it all at club level, but they also boast extraordinary records on the international stage. Between them, the pair have scored 227 goals for their country which is an unbelievable return.
Ronaldo manages to rank above everyone else on the international stage when it comes to goals as he managed to surpass Iran's Ali Daei to become the men's all-time top international scorer.
Of course, the Portuguese forward has also managed to get his hands on some silverware with his country as he won Euro 2016 and also came out on top in the 2018-19 UEFA Nations League.
Lionel Messi has found that most of his success with Argentina has come in his later career, but it has been well worth the wait. The Argentine genius completed a historic international treble last year as he added the World Cup to his trophy cabinet which already contained the Copa America and Finalissima trophies.
In many ways, the World Cup was the crowning moment in Messi's illustrious career. The 36-year-old took to social media after the game to explain what the trophy meant to him.
“I always had the dream of being World Champion and I never wanted to stop trying, even though I knew it might never happen,” Messi wrote on social media.
“This Cup we won also belongs to all those who did not win it in the previous World Cups we played, like in 2014 in Brazil, where everyone deserved it for how they fought until the very end, worked hard and wanted it as much as I did…. and we deserved it even in that damn final.
“It also belongs to Diego [Maradona] who cheered us on from heaven. And of all those who always supported the National Team without looking so much at the result but at the desire we always had, even when things did not work out the way we wanted them to.”
We've had a deeper dive into Messi's international record with Argentina and have compared it to Ronaldo's at Portugal. It will come as little surprise that both players have produced some crazy numbers over the years.
Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Games: 176
Goals: 104
Assists: 53
Penalties scored: 24
Friendly goals: 49
Ratio of friendly goals: 47%
World Cup goals: 13
Ratio of World Cup goals: 12.5%
Hat-tricks: 9
Free kick goals: 11
Outside the box goals: 14
Minutes per goal: 141
Minutes per non-penalty goal: 183
Minutes per goal or assist: 93
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Games: 201
Goals: 123
Assists: 33
Penalties scored: 18
Friendly goals: 20
Ratio of friendly goals: 16%
World Cup goals: 8
Ratio of World Cup goals: 6.5%
Hat-tricks: 10
Free kick goals: 11
Outside the box goals: 11
Minutes per goal: 129
Minutes per non-penalty goal: 152
Minutes per goal or assist: 102
Anirban18
724
After losing the 2009 UCL to Barcelona, Ferguson said he would have stopped Barcelona if he put JS Park to man-mark Messi. He did that in 2011 UCL final The rest is history. Messi destroyed him again... So, don't compare the best man to any others... THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME ❤
TNSB
624
Compare Messi with someone that has won the World Cup
GILBOY
597
it's not a time to hate, it's time to appreciate them
Peaceking1234
512
Please let's add Goals🎯 in a World Cup Final💯 , I want to check something💯😂😂
CruzJR999
503
🗣️: I Am one of The Luckiest Guy💯 To Witnes their Great Era ✅🌟 Huge Respect💯 For The Both Goats🐐 Of Football ⚽ Cr7️⃣ 🇵🇹 ✅ M1️⃣0️⃣ 🇦🇷 ✅
VIKINGSB
396
AF whenever they noticed that CR7 & LM10 fans are in peace, they set a stage for ROYAL RUMBLE b/w the two fan base 🤣.
showkeyd
371
the real Goat is ONE ☝️
BroMessi10
314
It is a silly thing and ridiculously awkward to compare this man with Christiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo on the other hand is also a very very good players above average. ❤️ Love them both.
maturidikxith
304
without WC cr7 is still the best international player 🐐😊
AminuSalmanu
287
wow all goats have a great record in the world known so let see the best
Iffy106
185
World Cup is for Men and Toys Cup is for Crying baby boy
CruzJR999
143
🗣️: M1️⃣0️⃣ 🇦🇷✅ Cr7️⃣ 🇵🇹✅ We Love U ❤️❤️💯
vst
120
Messi is a playmaker.. Ronaldo CR7 is a fighter Messi knows how to break down the defense the assists speaks for him, Ronaldo is a fighter he can score goals but not much goals if he's not surrounded with playmakers... arriving at al narsa Ronaldo strived now that mane..brozoviç..joined is scoring
Caabcelmps
96
I think u should never compare Messi to any player who have never won a world cup. Messi should be compared to Pele, Maradona cuz he (Messi) belongs to the group of the greatest.
Edosnoba
36
i remember when Messi haven't won any international trophies, i explain to them that he's the best and they told me that he hasn't won anything with his national team just Olympic gold medal and junior team world cup. i remember that during that world cup some said Mikel is better than him that he's just been favoured by FIFA he kept on with all the surprises and Mikel wasn't even compared with him again. he battle and got 4 balloon d'or in a row they said he's just been favoured. he kept on and finally won international trebles still that is just been favoured... people turn to blind eyes to his game and impact that he's a midfielder and still competing with a forward like Ronaldo in goals with fewer games played.. that's y they were quick to judge him in France that he's not scoring so he's a flop... go and check that's his contributions was still a top notch and still won trophies with them b4 leaving. he went to inter miami that haven't won any trophy just to prove a point that he can play in any team and deliver. meanwhile Ronaldo has played for all the best team in each league meaning all team CR7 has played for are all successful team. The more you hate on him the more he will make you cry...