Messi has won more individual awards (8 Ballon d'Ors vs Ronaldo's 5) and a FIFA World Cup, while Ronaldo holds superior athleticism metrics and has scored more international goals (he is the all-time record international goalscorer). Their peak performances occurred in different eras, with Messi dominating the 2009-2015 period and Ronaldo excelling from 2013-2018.
Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Messi wins for overall career achievement, consistency, and peak dominance, evidenced by more Ballon d'Ors and the World Cup trophy that eluded Ronaldo. Ronaldo wins for athleticism, longevity across different leagues, and superior international goal-scoring output. Choose Messi if you value technical mastery, trophy accumulation, and peak-era dominance; choose Ronaldo if you prioritize athleticism, adaptability, and sustained goal-scoring across more decades.
Compare Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo
Argentine playmaker-forward with 8 Ballon d'Or awards, 2 World Cups, and 35 major trophies including record-breaking individual seasons
Portuguese forward with 890+ career goals, 5 Champions League titles, and peak scoring consistency across 5 elite clubs
Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo — Comparison Data
Structured comparison data for Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo with 154 attributes.
Total Major Trophies (Club + International)
Champions League Different Opponents Scored Against
Major Trophy Count (Club & International)
Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo.
How many Ballon d'Or awards has Messi won compared to Ronaldo?
Messi has won 8 Ballon d'Or awards (including 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023), while Ronaldo has won 5. Messi's most recent win in 2023 extended his all-time record.
Who has scored more Champions League goals — Messi or Ronaldo?
Ronaldo holds the Champions League all-time scoring record with over 140 goals, compared to Messi's approximately 129. Ronaldo has also won the Champions League 5 times across 3 clubs.
Yes. Messi led Argentina to the 2022 FIFA World Cup title in Qatar, scoring 7 goals and earning the Golden Ball for the tournament's best player. Ronaldo has never won the World Cup.
Which league records does each player hold?
Messi holds the La Liga all-time scoring record with 474 goals. Ronaldo set the record for most goals scored in a single Champions League season (17) in 2013-14, and holds the record for most hat-tricks in the Champions League.
How do Messi and Ronaldo compare as playmakers?
Messi is widely considered the superior playmaker — he has recorded 350+ career assists at club level and consistently led La Liga in assists. Ronaldo's assist numbers are lower as his game is more focused on finishing and positioning in the penalty area.