Cristiano Ronaldo v Lionel Messi: The statistics behind the greatest rivalry

It’s the debate that has dominated column inches and shaped the language of football discourse: Is Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi the pre-eminent present-day player?

The defining rivalry of the modern era is set for its latest chapter on Tuesday night when Messi’s Barcelona welcome Ronaldo’s Juventus to the Nou Camp in a Champions League sizzler on BT Sport ESPN HD (8pm KO).

The Argentine and Portuguese legends are set to face off for the first time since 2018 and ahead of the blockbuster meeting, btsport.com have taken a look at some of the key head-to-head stats so you can make an informed decision about who is the greatest.

Cristiano Ronaldo v Lionel Messi: Club goals

Ronaldo and Messi boast staggering goal scoring records in club football.

Since his professional debut for Sporting CP in 2002, Ronaldo has scored 648 goals in 861 club games (<0.75 per game). Remarkably, the Juventus man netted 50+ goals for six successive seasons for Real Madrid between 2010/11 and 2015/16.

Messi, who is the top scorer in Barcelona’s history, has scored 641 goals in 744 games (0.86 per game).

Ronaldo’s most prolific season to date was in 2014/15 (61), while Messi scored the most in 2011/12 (73).

Both players’ goal returns have fallen slightly in recent years, but they’re still among the most potent forwards in the top European leagues every season.

In international football, the Portuguese has scored 101 goals in 167 games (0.60 per game), whereas the Argentinian has scored 71 goals in his 140 games (0.51 per game).

Cristiano Ronaldo v Lionel Messi: Champions League stats

Ronaldo is the all-time leading scorer in Champions League history with 132 goals, while Messi is the second highest scorer with 118 goals.

The Barcelona star has a marginally superior goals per game ratio in Europe’s elite competition (0.81) than Ronaldo (0.76).

Ronaldo was the first to reach 100 goals with a single club, though. He reached the mark for Real Madrid on 14 February 2018. Messi completed his century exactly one month later.

Both have eight hat-tricks in Europe to their name, although the diminutive Argentine leads the Portuguese 69-63 in all-time group stage goals.

The former Manchester United man has the most assists (41) in the competition’s history, too. Messi, predictably, is second (36).

Cristiano Ronaldo v Lionel Messi: Titles

Ronaldo has won titles for every team he has played for (Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus). The Portuguese has won more Champions Leagues and FIFA Club World Cups than Messi, although the Argentinian has won more titles overall, largely due to Barcelona’s dominance in Spain.

Ronaldo has arguably won more prestigious honours on the international stage, helping Portugal to European Championship and Nations League glory. Messi, on the other hand, has famously struggled on the international stage, although he has won the Olympics and the U20 World Cup with Argentina.

Cristiano Ronaldo v Lionel Messi: Individual awards

Remarkably, Ronaldo and Messi had a complete stranglehold on the Ballon D’Or – the most recognised individual gong in football – between 2008 and 2017.

The Barcelona legend has won one more (6) than Ronaldo (5), although the Portuguese has scooped more awards in the Champions League.

He was top scorer in the Champions League more times than the Argentinian (7-6) and has won the award for the competition’s best player more times (3-2).

Both were named FIFA World Player of the Year before the award was subsumed into the Ballon D’Or.

Have you made your mind up yet? Take a step back from the empirical data and the unavoidable debate often comes down to personal preference.

Hyperbole aside, Ronaldo and Messi are two of the greatest players to ever play the game and they will renew acquaintances once again when the Champions League group stage concludes on Matchday 6.

Watch Barcelona v Juventus on Tuesday 8 December exclusively live at 8pm on BT Sport ESPN HD and online.