Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. You have to choose, apparently. Much of modern football discourse has encouraged us to pick one of this generation's defining talents over the other, rather than appreciate them both.
However, they do represent contrasting ideologies. Messi is the born talent, capable of magical acts beyond the conceptions of the vast majority of human civilisation. Ronaldo, his body meticulously sculpted in the gym, represents a monument to hard work and dedication to his craft.
Which player you choose – if you even want to choose – is entirely a matter for you, of course. But a few big names in world football have previously made arguments for one over the other.
After Messi scored his 600th Barcelona goal, ex-Barcelona man Gary Lineker tweeted: If he were just a goalscorer it would be astonishing, but the fact he's also the best dribbler I've ever seen and as good a passer as I've ever seen makes him the best I've ever seen.”
Perhaps less predictably, Ronaldo's former Manchester United team-mate Wayne Rooney also picked out the diminutive Argentine when asked to select one of the two. “I've said this before, but they're both probably the best two players ever to play the game and I just think Messi is in my eyes the greatest ever.”
Pele, David Beckham and Ronaldinho have also opted for Messi, but there are plenty who'll take Ronaldo's side in the debate, including Pele, who seems to change his mind on the matter as often as he changes his underpants.
Pele's compatriot and legendary Real Madrid full-back Roberto Carlos once said: “I watch him [Cristiano] train every day and the way he works is exciting. He wants to improve every day. That's the difference with Messi.
“Leo is a phenomenon, but that side of Cristiano, of training, professionalism, focus, motivation, success… Cristiano has an advantage over all the others.”
Michael Owen agreed when talking to BT Sport in 2015: “If I was a manager, I'd want to take Ronaldo. I think that's the best way to sum it up. He's played in different leagues. I think you could plonk him in any team and he'd be fantastic.”
We've collated the career stats of both legends, courtesy of a website dedicated to the two players. You can make your own minds up, or perhaps just sit back and enjoy the fun they both provide.
Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo
969 – Games – 1,119
79,367 – Career mins – 91,124
762 – Goals – 813
328 – Assists – 230
55 – Hat-tricks – 60
58 – Free-kicks – 58
639 – Left foot – 149
94 – Right foot – 521
26 – Headers – 141
102/132 – Penalties converted – 144/173
7 – Ballon d'Or wins – 5
6 – European Golden Shoe wins – 4
0.79 – Goals per game – 0.73
104.2 – Minutes per goal – 112.1
72.8 – Minutes per goal or assist – 87.4
37 – Trophies – 34
11 – League titles – 7
4 – Champions League – 5
26.2 – Games per trophy – 32.9
160 – International caps – 186
81 – International goals – 115
1 – International trophies – 2
TeddyBarclay
452
For Me Both are the GOATS they made me Enjoy Football as I consider Messi as an Alien, Someone Who does Things That Can only be done In Imagination or by kids Using their Toys, He plays like he watches the game from Above By controlling everything with a Remote,He dribbles Pass People like He's as Slippery as a Snail everything just slows down for Him The goals he have Scored and things he has done looking at his size or Height makes me understand that Age doesn't Matter He's The Most Complete Player Ever..... Ronaldo is like a Robot someone Someone who Goes for everything That he wants and there is Nothing that can stop him,He's Built Exactly how the Great wall Was, He's the Terminator in human Form, He Scores with everything that is Allow In Football, Right Foot,Left Foot,Header,And Even Chest, He's a Goal Machine That Produces any Amount of goals you want, His work Rate,His Hunger his Desire and over all his Passion of the Game is Second to None, He's like a Living Inspiration and He's actually the Greatest Goal Scorer the football World will ever see......My GOATS 🐐🐐
Nicholas47
168
For me the GOAT is which one you admire and enjoy watching according to there style of play and personality. There many stats that prove CR7 is way better than Messi and there are many stats that prove Messi is way better than CR7. For me even if Messi had 600 goals and CR7 only 100 goals to his name I'll still go CR7 cause I like his style of play and character on the pitch, same applies to Messi fans no matter what stats of CR7 we show you, it'll never drag you to like CR7. For me playing in 4 top leagues and achieving something on the way is more than enough to prove that he is one of the best if not the best to ever kick the ball. Both came from different planets no wonder no player is comes close when comparing stats . GOAT is who you choose and not what other fans want you to declare. Cherish them both if not don't hate the other
rewbceimot
113
Greatest achievement of Cristiano Ronaldo is being compared to the GOAT Lionel Messi. Period!!!
Irphankhan
91
Ronaldo is far more better than Messi without a doubt
squarerahj
61
Wait ..u can't compare someone that plays in England, Italy and Spain to make such achievements to someone that makes his achievements in Spain only. If Messi moves around like Ronaldo did, he would have retired since. Cos of this Ronaldo is the greatest player of all time[ko]
keshavharihar
54
messi is the most lucky person on this planet cuz of being compared with GOAT CRISTIANO RONALDO 🐐