For the first time in 20 years, neither Leo Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo will take part in this year's Champions League, which kicks off on Tuesday. The Argentinian is with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS), while the Portuguese is with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia. Two different destinations to leave behind a long reign on the Old Continent.
The two most influential players on the planet have put an end to their time in Europe. While Cristiano made his debut in 2003 with Sporting Portugal in the top continental club competition and played his last game in 2022 with Manchester United, Messi made his debut in 2004 with FC Barcelona and ended that period with Paris Saint-Germain in 2023. Both have played 19 seasons in the Champions League.
Everything comes to an end and it's time for new leaders in the Champions League: the era of the '10' and '7' is over, but it's time for players like Mbappé, Haaland, Pedri, Gavi or Vinicius.
Messi and Cristiano lead several of the most important individual and historical rankings of the competition, such as: most matches, most goals, most assists, most titles... We review them below:
Leo Messi
Games: 163
Goals: 129
Goals per game: 0,79
Assists: 37
Trophies: 4
Teams scored against: 40
Braces: 28
Hat-tricks: 6
Four goals in a game: 1
Five goals in a game: 1
Cristiano Ronaldo
Games: 183
Goals: 140
Goals per games: 0,77
Assists: 42
Trophies: 5
Teams scored against: 38
Braces: 30
Hat-tricks: 7
Four goals in a game: 1
Five goals in a game: 0
King_Martins_Lover
550
I almost cried when I saw this post. We will forever remember you guys, LM10 & CR7
ishti
542
The UEFA Champions League is back today but it will be without some of the biggest Football Legends⚽️❤️🩹 Cristiano Ronaldo Lionel Messi Karim Benzema Neymar Jr Luis Suarez Sergio Busquets This year UCL won’t feel the same😪
ishti
457
They will be watching from home. Watching the kids try their best to be closer to them as far as possible in terms of footballing success and they will feel the nostalgia
VIKINGSB
348
So proud that I witnessed the era of these two GOATS 🐐✅.
limengoeng
279
CR7 has already won five UEFA Champions Leagues. Now he wants something different.
Peaceking1234
250
That shows Our G.O.A.Ts🐐 Eras are Ending💯💔, So Sad , Forever G.O.A.Ts 🐐👑, LM1O👑, CR7👑
Peaceking1234
237
A True Ending of An Era💔💯, Forever Greats👑💯
JoyNg01
172
In the annals of football history: The 1960s cherished Pele. The 1970s celebrated Cruyff. The 1980s honored Maradona. The 1990s revered Ronaldo Nazario. The 2000s admired Zidane and Ronaldinho. The 2020s will remember Messi. Yet, throughout it all, Cristiano Ronaldo remains the GOAT, etched in football's timeless memory. 🐐🇵🇹❤️👑🤍
Bazbcmuz
119
It's not exactly related but Not Messi nor Cristiano hold the record of WC and UCL number over Pele and Gento.Both have stats and player of tournaments record instead but some gets called MR Champions League by Pnaldians the other is just a normal WC winner like Kaka by this brainlss fanbase despite having the most goal involvement,assists,dribbles,golden ball and....(The only record is the goal record and it's not impossible he only needs 3 goals to tie in WC 2026 he could already do this in group stages).Tho double standards isn't something new for a fanbase that liked an Egg post to take away Messi's like record over his WC cup
Peaceking1234
112
The Eras of the G.O.A.Ts are ending💔 but a New Era👑 is beginning👇💯
AresSon
86
People argue about who's the best but it's so close the moment when one of them retires then the other follows and then the world will fall into silence for me this will feel like my sibling died because I have followed both of them ever sense I was 6 I'm sure many people feel the same
jabeermakasa
50
those are my favourites always ❤