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Football · Level 9: Master · Sub-level 9.93

Messi vs. Ronaldo — The GOAT Debate

10 tests · 100 facts · updated 12 October 2026 · markdown

Two careers side by side: beginnings, the Ballon d'Or years, Ronaldo in Manchester and Madrid, Messi's records, the Clásicos, international football, Champions League records and the debate itself.

Each test below is ten questions on Insporta. The list under a test is what the questions check: one fact per question, with the source it was written from. Read it before the test, or come back from a wrong answer.

Test 1Beginnings: Rosario, La Masia, Madeira, SportingTake a test

  1. He played in Newell's youth teams from the age of six, in the side known as 'the Machine of '87'.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  2. He came on late in the derby at 17; his first goal came the following May.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  3. Ronaldinho lifted the ball over the defence and then carried Messi on his back in celebration.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  4. He left Nacional for Sporting in 1997 and made his first-team debut there in 2002.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  5. United's defenders struggled with him at the new Alvalade, and the deal was done within days.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  6. He had worn 28 at Sporting; Ferguson gave him the number of Best, Robson, Cantona and Beckham.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  7. His father admired Reagan, who was then US president.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  8. Rosario in the 1990s, Barcelona from 2000-01, the debut in 2004 and the first goal in 2005.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  9. 1997, 2002, August 2003 and July 2004.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  10. He was born in Funchal, the capital of the Portuguese island of Madeira, whose airport now carries his name.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

Test 2The Ballon d'Or yearsTake a test

  1. He won it after his 42-goal season and the Champions League with Manchester United.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · recall

  2. He won in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012; nobody had won four in a row before.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  3. The combined 'FIFA Ballon d'Or' ran for six years before France Football took its award back.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  4. France Football decided the season had been too disrupted to judge fairly.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  5. 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · recall

  6. The award rewarded his 2022 World Cup and season in Paris, but by the ceremony he was in Miami.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  7. Best won it in 1968; Law and Charlton had won it earlier in the 1960s.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  8. 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2023.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  9. Messi has eight, Ronaldo five and Platini three.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  10. Modrić won after Real Madrid's third Champions League in a row and Croatia's run to the World Cup final.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

Test 3Ronaldo at Manchester UnitedTake a test

  1. He scored 42 in all competitions that season.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  2. United still won after John Terry slipped and Edwin van der Sar saved from Nicolas Anelka.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  3. It beat the fee Real had paid Milan for Kaká weeks earlier.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  4. Ronaldo had protested to the referee over Rooney's stamp, then winked towards Portugal's bench.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  5. It was a record for a teenager in England at the time.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  6. United won the title in 2007, 2008 and 2009; the Champions League came once, in 2008.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  7. He criticised the club and its manager on television, and his contract was terminated by agreement.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  8. 2003, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  9. Sporting to 2003, United to 2009, Real to 2018 and Juventus to 2021.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  10. The goal won United's Champions League quarter-final in Porto in April 2009.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

Test 4Messi's record seasonsTake a test

  1. It is a European record for one season; 50 of them came in La Liga.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  2. Barcelona won the last-16 second leg 7-1 at the Camp Nou.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  3. More than anyone else; Ronaldo won it four times.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  4. It was Guardiola's last season; Vilanova, his assistant, succeeded him.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  5. Arsenal had led at the Camp Nou before Messi scored four and Barcelona won 4-1.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  6. In a Copa del Rey semi-final he ran from his own half past several players, almost step for step.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  7. He scored against every other side in the league during the run.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  8. April 2010, March 2012, the whole of 2012 and the 2012-13 season.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  9. He scored 50, 46 and 43.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  10. Müller's record for Bayern and West Germany had stood for 40 years.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

Test 5Ronaldo at Real MadridTake a test

  1. He scored 450 in 438 matches; 311 of them came in La Liga.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  2. 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018; his fifth came with Manchester United in 2008.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  3. Real won the league in 2011-12 and 2016-17; Barcelona took most of the others.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  4. Messi still won the league with Barcelona that season.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  5. The final in Milan finished 1-1 and Ronaldo took Real's fifth penalty.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  6. He was 33, and Juventus made him the most expensive player over 30 in history.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  7. Pellegrini lasted one season despite 96 points; Mourinho replaced him.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  8. 2009, 2010, 2013 and 2016.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  9. 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  10. The quarter-final goal from Carvajal's cross drew a standing ovation from Juventus fans; months later he joined them.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

Test 6Head to head in the ClásicoTake a test

  1. Messi scored 26 goals against Real; Ronaldo and Di Stéfano scored 18 each against Barcelona.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  2. Ibrahimović came off the bench to volley the winner at the Camp Nou.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  3. It was Mourinho's first Clásico; the 6-2 was an earlier Guardiola win at the Bernabéu.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  4. A league match, the Copa del Rey final and both legs of a Champions League semi-final.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  5. The final in Valencia was Real's first trophy since 2008.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  6. Real scored 121 league goals; Messi's 50 were not enough for Barcelona.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  7. Ronaldo had missed a penalty in the goalless first leg; Scholes's long shot decided the tie at Old Trafford.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  8. November 2010, April 2011 and April 2012.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  9. Dozens of Clásicos, three United-Barcelona meetings (2008 twice and the 2009 final) and one Juventus group game in 2020, Ronaldo having missed the first.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  10. The second of his two goals at the Bernabéu was a run past four defenders.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

Test 7International careersTake a test

  1. He came on, was held by a defender, swung an arm free and was shown a red card within two minutes.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  2. He had missed his shoot-out penalty against Chile; he reversed the decision within weeks.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  3. Angelos Charisteas headed the only goal; the 19-year-old Ronaldo left the pitch in tears.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  4. His late free kick made it 3-3 in Sochi.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  5. Daei scored 109 goals for Iran; Ronaldo passed him against Ireland in September 2021.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  6. Portugal beat the Netherlands in 2019 and Spain on penalties in 2025.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  7. Batistuta had held the record with 54 goals.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  8. 2008, July 2021, June 2022 and December 2022.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  9. Euro 2004, the 2010 World Cup, the Euro 2016 final and September 2021.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  10. Argentina beat Nigeria 1-0 in the Beijing final in 2008, with Di María scoring from Messi's pass.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

Test 8Champions League recordsTake a test

  1. 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2015, all with Barcelona.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · recall

  2. One with Manchester United and four with Real Madrid.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · recall

  3. He scored in a 5-0 group win at the Camp Nou.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  4. The run spanned the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  5. Ronaldo played 183 matches; Casillas is second.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  6. Four in a row from 2008-09, then 2014-15 and 2018-19; Ronaldo did it seven times.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  7. Messi played but did not score; the result gave Juventus top place in the group.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  8. 2009, 2011 and 2015.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  9. Ronaldo five, Messi four and Neymar one, in 2015.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  10. He was hurt against Chelsea in March 2006 and watched from the stands in Paris.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

Test 9After the peakTake a test

  1. He had agreed to stay on reduced wages, but the club could not register the contract under the league's rules.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  2. PSG were champions in 2021-22 and 2022-23.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · recall

  3. Miami beat Nashville on penalties in August 2023; they lost the US Open Cup final weeks later.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  4. He was the first to top the scoring charts in England, Spain and Italy.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  5. Juventus were champions in 2019 and 2020; Inter ended their run in 2021.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · recall

  6. He beat the league's previous record of 34 goals.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  7. It came in a Nations League match in Lisbon.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  8. Barcelona to 2021, PSG to 2023, then Miami.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  9. Juventus from 2018, United again from 2021 and Al Nassr from January 2023.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  10. Al Nassr of Riyadh made him the highest-paid footballer in the world.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

Test 10How the debate is arguedTake a test

  1. Ronaldo passed 900 in 2024; Messi's total is lower but came with far more assists.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  2. Messi holds La Liga's assist record; creating is a central part of the case for him.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  3. Ronaldo won league titles in three of the big leagues; Messi's peak was spent at Barcelona.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  4. His dribbling and passing numbers sit alongside his goals, which few forwards have matched.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  5. CR7 is his own brand and 'El Bicho' a nickname from Madrid; 'Penaldo' is the critics' jibe.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  6. Ronaldo is known for being two-footed and strong in the air; Messi uses his left for almost everything.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  7. The picture went out on the eve of the World Cup in Qatar and became one of the most liked posts ever.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  8. Ten league titles, eight Ballon d'Or awards, four Champions Leagues and one World Cup.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  9. Ronaldo passed 130 for Portugal, Messi 110 for Argentina; Pelé scored 77 for Brazil.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

  10. Messi spent two seasons with PSG; Ronaldo played in Portugal, England, Spain and Italy.

    Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo · applied

Sources

FIFA and UEFA official records / club records / contemporary match reports / published histories and biographies / audited club accounts

  • Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo100