The Rivalry Between Messi & Ronaldo

Football fans may already be familiar with world-famous Football supers
tars. Yes, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are two figures who are admired and idolized. It was so great that these two great players have even become rivals to this day. In fact, each fan also takes part in this rivalry. The greatness of both of them cannot be denied, both in scoring records and winning trophies. Most recently, La Pulga, nicknamed Messi, was recorded as having won 8 Ballon d'Or trophies. Meanwhile, CR7, nicknamed Ronaldo, only won 5 trophies for this outstanding player. Even so, both of them still put on an impressive game even though they no longer compete in European football.

The origins of Messi and Ronaldo's rivalry

Messi and Ronaldo are known to have had different career starts, where La Pulga has played with Barcelona since he was young. Meanwhile, CR7 had a career with Sporting Lisbon. Messi, in his biography, revealed that he felt Ronaldo would be the toughest competitor in his career. He felt that when Ronaldo was still wearing a Manchester United shirt. "Before he played in Spain, I could already feel that Ronaldo would be my competitor in world football," said Messi. In the 2008/09 Champions League final, Messi was known to be able to humiliate Ronaldo, who was still wearing the Red Devils costume. CR7, who in the previous year succeeded in bringing MU to the Champions League title, had to bow down to see the greatness of Messi and friends. That could be said to be one of the beginnings of the fierce competition between Ronaldo and Messi. After that, the two of them met in the Spanish La Liga when Ronaldo was transferred by Real Madrid from MU in 2009. 

Messi vs Ronaldo in El Clasico 2016

At the start of his appearance, this 38 year old player was still 'lost' to Messi. It is known that in his first season, Ronaldo only scored 33 goals for El Real in all competitions. Compare that with Messi who scored a total of 47 goals that season for the Blaugrana in all competitions. However, that was just the beginning. After his 'failure' in the first season, Ronaldo continued to step on the gas with Real Madrid. From 2010/11 to 2014/15, Ronaldo managed to score more than 50 goals in all competitions for Real Madrid. The sharpness of this Portuguese captain is so scary. Although Ronaldo's goals did not have much impact on Real Madrid's achievements. He has only won 7 titles for Real Madrid, still less than Messi's score of 16 titles in the same period. It's not surprising that Messi fans often make fun of Ronaldo's score. It was stated that Madrid could only celebrate Ronaldo's number of goals, not Madrid's achievements. Even though the two of them no longer compete in the same league, their rivalry is still felt to this day.

Relationship Between Messi and Ronaldo

In a 2016 interview, Ronaldo commented on the rivalry saying: "I think we sometimes push each other in the competition, this is why the rivalry is so high." Alex Ferguson, Ronaldo's manager during his time at Manchester United, opined: "I don't think their competition with each other bothers them. I think they have their own personal pride in terms of wanting to be the best." Messi has denied any rivalry, and blamed the media for creating it, stating that "only the media, the press, want us to have a fight but I have never had a fight with Cristiano."

It is widely argued and documented that there was an air of rivalry between the two, with Guillem Balagué claiming in Ronaldo's book that he referred to his Argentinian colleague as a "bastard" behind his back, and Luca Caioli saying in his book Ronaldo: The Obsession for Perfection that, according to the source, Ronaldo heated up while watching Messi play. Responding to claims that he and Messi don't get along personally, Ronaldo commented: "We don't have a relationship outside the world of football, just like we don't with many other players", previously adding that in the years to come he hopes they can laugh about it together, stating: "We have to look at this competition in a positive spirit, because it is a good thing." In November 2014, Ronaldo also threatened to take legal action over statements made by Balague. Following Ronaldo's departure from Real Madrid to Juventus, Messi admitted he missed him, saying: "I miss Cristiano. Although it was a bit difficult to see him win trophies, he gave La Liga prestige." During a joint interview at the UEFA Best Player ceremony in 2019, Ronaldo said he would like to "have dinner together in the future", to which Messi replied: "If I get an invitation, why not?"

Awards and Records

Category Lionel Messi Cristiano Ronaldo FIFA Ballon d'Or 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017 UEFA Best Player 2011, 2015, 2019 2014, 2016, 2017 UEFA Champions League 4 Titles (2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2014–15) 5 Titles (2007–08, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18) Domestic League Goals 826 Goals (FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Miami) 879 Goals (Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, Al Nassr) International Goals 106 Goals (Argentina) 128 Goals (Portugal) FIFA World Cup Runner-up 2014, Champions 2022 - UEFA European Championship Winner 2006, 2009, 2011, 2015 Winner 2008, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 Top Scorer UEFA Champions League 6 times (up to 2021) 7 times (up to 2021) Most goals in a calendar year 91 goals in 2012 69 goals in 2013 Statistics And Head to Head

Statistic Lionel Messi Cristiano Ronaldo Total Goals 826 879 Total Assists 363 249 Ballon d'Or Wins 8 5 Champions League Apps 163 183 UCL Goals 129 140 Assists 40 41 UCL Titles 4 5 La Liga titles 10 2 La Liga Goals 474 311 La Liga Assists 191 95 Domestic Titles 7 6 Head-to-Head Win Rate (%) Messi: 16.7%, Ronaldo: 11.1%

One of the most fascinating tales in football history is the rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. For almost a decade, their distinct playing styles, remarkable abilities, and unwavering quest for excellence have captivated fans across the globe. Messi is renowned for his amazing dribbling, keen vision, and innate ability to create opportunities, which highlight the creative element of football. In the meantime, Ronaldo's physical attributes, strong work ethic, and potent scoring ability stand for commitment and tenacity. Their rivalry has inspired both players to set new standards for themselves and redefine what is possible on the field, going beyond individual accomplishments. Messi and Ronaldo are two athletes who consistently set the bar high for excellence in the game, whether it is through their incredible goal scoring records or their leadership in winning matches.

There will always be disagreements about who is the greater player, but there is no denying their mutual regard and admiration for one another. Even though they are intense rivals on the field, Messi and Ronaldo frequently compliment one other's abilities and successes, acknowledging the ways in which they have challenged one another to succeed. The rivalry between Messi and Ronaldo has a lasting effect on football history as they near the end of their careers, emphasizing the value of sportsmanship, competition, and greatness. Future generations of players and spectators will draw inspiration from their legacy, guaranteeing that the rivalry between Messi and Ronaldo will continue to be a beloved aspect of the history of the sport for many years to come.