# Messi vs. Ronaldo — The GOAT Debate · Football Level 9: Master

Football · Level 9: Master · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/football/level-9/messi-vs-ronaldo-the-goat-debate/)

Messi vs. Ronaldo — The GOAT Debate in Football (Level 9: Master) on Insporta: 100 sourced facts behind 10 tests. Covers: beginnings: rosario, la masi.

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.

## Test 1: Beginnings: Rosario, La Masia, Madeira, Sporting

- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 1997, 2002, August 2003 and July 2004. (Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo)
- 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)

## Test 2: The Ballon d'Or years

- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2023. (Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo)
- Messi has eight, Ronaldo five and Platini three. (Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo)
- 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)

## Test 3: Ronaldo at Manchester United

- He scored 42 in all competitions that season. (Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 2003, 2007, 2008 and 2009. (Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo)
- 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)
- 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)

## Test 4: Messi's record seasons

- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- He scored 50, 46 and 43. (Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo)
- 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)

## Test 5: Ronaldo at Real Madrid

- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 2009, 2010, 2013 and 2016. (Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo)
- 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018. (Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo)
- 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)

## Test 6: Head to head in the Clásico

- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- November 2010, April 2011 and April 2012. (Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo)
- 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)
- 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)

## Test 7: International careers

- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- Batistuta had held the record with 54 goals. (Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo)
- 2008, July 2021, June 2022 and December 2022. (Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo)
- 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)
- 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)

## Test 8: Champions League records

- 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2015, all with Barcelona. (Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- Ronaldo played 183 matches; Casillas is second. (Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo)
- 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)
- 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)
- 2009, 2011 and 2015. (Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo)
- 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)
- 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)

## Test 9: After the peak

- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- Barcelona to 2021, PSG to 2023, then Miami. (Source: Club, UEFA and FIFA records; France Football; contemporary reports on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo)
- 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)
- 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)

## Test 10: How the debate is argued

- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)

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

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