Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi (foto: //)
The debate over who is the greatest footballer of all time often boils down to two names: Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Both have enjoyed illustrious careers filled with individual accolades and team trophies. In this comprehensive report, we compare the titles and awards that these two football legends have accumulated over the years.
Messi vs Ronaldo: Individual Awards
The dominance of Messi and Ronaldo in individual awards has been remarkable over the last 17 years, particularly concerning the Ballon d'Or since 2007. Aside from Luka Modric's win in 2018 and Karim Benzema's in 2022, the award has mostly been a two-man race.
Lionel Messi has won the Ballon d'Or 8 times, finishing second on 5 occasions and third once. He captured the award in 2019, 2021, and 2023. Additionally, Messi won the FIFA 'The Best' award in 2019. "It’s incredible to be recognized with such honors," Messi has said, reflecting on his career achievements.
Cristiano Ronaldo follows closely with 5 Ballon d'Or trophies and has finished as runner-up 6 times, one more than Messi. Ronaldo has also won the FIFA 'The Best' award twice. He has been the top scorer in the UEFA Champions League seven times, compared to Messi's six, and has been named UEFA's Best Player in Europe three times to Messi's two.
On the international stage, Ronaldo claimed the Golden Boot at Euro 2021, while Messi was the MVP, top scorer, and top assist provider at the 2021 Copa América. Messi also won the MVP award at the last World Cup. "Winning for my country has always been my biggest dream," Messi remarked after Argentina's recent victories.
In terms of other awards, Messi leads in Golden Boots (6-4), World Cup Ballon d'Ors (2-0), La Liga top scorer titles (8-3), Onze d'Or awards (4-2), and the Golden Boy award (1-0). Ronaldo, however, has been named the world's best goal scorer by IFFHS five times, compared to Messi's two. Ronaldo also boasts a unique Golden Foot award, which Messi has yet to win. Moreover, Ronaldo has the distinction of being the top scorer in Spain, England, and Italy, a feat no other player has achieved.
Club Achievements: CR7 vs Messi
The UEFA Champions League is a favorite for Ronaldo, who has won it five times, compared to Messi's four. However, Messi excels in domestic league titles, boasting 11 (10 La Liga and 1 Ligue 1) compared to Ronaldo's 7 (3 Premier League, 2 La Liga, and 2 Serie A).
In cup competitions, Messi has a slight edge with 7 trophies, including Copa del Rey, Coppa Italia, FA Cup, and EFL Cup, while Ronaldo has 6. Both players are tied in UEFA Super Cups (3 each), but Ronaldo has the upper hand in FIFA Club World Cups with four wins compared to Messi's three.
Ronaldo's diverse club career means he has also won titles in different countries, including Supercopas in Spain, Italy, and Portugal, as well as the Community Shield in England. Messi, having spent most of his career at Barcelona, has 9 titles in these categories, including Supercopas de España and one Trophée des Champions.
In total, Messi has 39 team trophies to Ronaldo's 33. This tally includes recent victories in less competitive stages of their careers: Ronaldo's Arab Club Champions Cup with Al-Nassr and Messi's Leagues Cup with Inter Miami. Despite the apparent imbalance, Ronaldo holds the record as the highest goal scorer of all time, a title Messi still has time to challenge.
International Titles: Messi vs Ronaldo
Ronaldo and Messi's international trophy collections have been more balanced, especially after Messi won the Copa América in 2021, ending a long wait for a senior international title. Messi has also won the Olympic gold medal in 2008 and the FIFA World Cup in 2022. He added another Copa América title in 2024.
Ronaldo's international success began with Portugal's Euro 2016 win and continued with the 2019 UEFA Nations League title. Despite these achievements, Messi's recent World Cup win and additional Copa América title have given him the edge in international competitions.