KEY POINTS

  • Stats show Lionel Messi has perfoemed better individually than Cristiano Ronaldo in the last decade
  • Both Messi and Ronaldo recorded unbelivable numbers in 10 years of rivalry
  • Messi is a better at club but Ronaldo is better at international leauge

Stats have revealed that Lionel Messi has performed better than Cristiano Ronaldo in the past decade.

Messi and Ronaldo have battled for supremacy for the past ten years. Regardless of who turned out to be the better player between the two soccer greats, the reality is that both Messi and Ronaldo rose as the greatest players of their era.

However, based on individual stats and feats the two have recorded in their decade-long rivalry, it appears that the Argentine superstar has ultimately topped “CR7.”

According to the compilation by Give Me Sport just before 2019 ends, Messi has dominated Ronaldo in almost all categories in club.

In terms of club goals, the Barcelona captain’s 522 is way above the Portuguese star’s 478. But nevertheless, both tallies are unbelievably remarkable. For the record, Messi has averaged over 52 goals-per-year in the last decade while Ronaldo has averaged under 48-goals-per-year. Leo’s best year for his club came in 2012, where he racked up an astonishing 79 club goals. Ronaldo on the other hand, had his best the following year where he scored 59 times for Real Madrid.

For club assists, Messi still topped Ronaldo 205 – 140. The said numbers indicate another insane numbers recorded by individual players. Ronaldo has been trying to keep up with Messi in assists category but has evidently decreased his totals in the past several years.

Not only did Messi excelled in individual club stats. He is also ahead of his eternal rival in terms of club trophies earned. Messi copped 23 in the last decade compared to Ronaldo’s 17 . The Argentine won 23 trophies with Barcelona, including seven La Liga titles while Ronaldo won just three league titles (two La Liga's and one Serie A title) However, Ronaldo managed to top Messi in the Champion’s League. The 34-year-old has won the Champions League four times this decade while Messi only did it twice.

Lionel Messi Cristiano Ronaldo Barcelona Real Madrid
Lionel Messi, left, and Barcelona first meet Celta Vigo followed by Real Madrid and Cristiano Ronaldo, right, away against Sevilla. Reuters

“CR7” may not be as impressive as Messi in club but he definitely ruled the international stage. In fact, Ronaldo is ahead of Messi in international goals. The Portuguese forward scored an incredible 77 times for his country this decade. This makes Ronaldo 20 goals on top of Messi’s tally of 57 for Argentina.

Messi and Ronaldo are expected to individually set remarkable goal records this year.

Since 2010, Messi has scored 50+ goals per year. If Messi will be productive this 2020, he is bound to complete a decade of 50+ goals scored per year.

Ronaldo is also on his way to making history in the first year of the new decade. The Juventus star has now officially scored against every active Serie A side he has faced and can make a sweep by scoring a goal when Juve finally play Brescia and Lecce on February and March.