Messi vs Ronaldo: Updated goal stats reignite football’s greatest rivalry

The Messi v Ronaldo argument will never die, but the latest numbers add fresh fuel to the fire. New data from BeSoccer Pro shows where the pair stand right now in the all-time scoring race, and the margins are still razor-thin despite both edging towards the twilight of their careers.

Messi has now played 1,136 senior matches and scored 896 goals, plus an eye-watering 401 assists. That’s 1,298 goal contributions straight off his boot, a return that keeps him firmly in the conversation as the game’s greatest technician. Cristiano Ronaldo, though, remains out in front in raw scoring terms. The Portuguese forward has racked up 955 goals in 1,298 appearances, making him the highest scorer in official history.

Ronaldo’s assist numbers lag well behind Messi’s, just 229 in total. That leaves the five-time Ballon d’Or winner on 1,184 direct goal contributions compared with Messi’s 1,298. In terms of averages, Messi sits at 0.79 goals and 0.35 assists per match, while Ronaldo comes in at 0.74 goals and 0.18 assists. Penalties are included for both.

Where the gap narrows is at the club level. Messi’s 781 goals and 341 assists for Barcelona, PSG and Inter Miami give him 1,122 goal involvements from 939 appearances. Ronaldo has 811 goals and 208 assists across spells with Sporting, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and Al-Nassr, totalling 1,019 goal contributions from 1,071 matches. Despite playing far fewer games, Messi still has 102 more club goals created than his long-time rival.

Their peak years went toe to toe. Between 2009 and 2018, Ronaldo hit a ridiculous 450 goals in 438 games for Real Madrid, averaging 1.03 per match. Messi, in the same window at Barcelona, scored 472 in 476 games at an average of 0.99. More goals, but more games, meaning Ronaldo edges that specific era statistically.

The post-Europe chapters tell another story. Ronaldo struck 101 goals in 133 matches for Juventus, then bagged 27 in 54 on his return to Manchester United. Across both United spells, he reached 146 goals from 346 matches. With Al-Nassr, he has already hit 110 goals in 123 games and counting. Messi’s move away from Barcelona was more turbulent. He scored 32 goals across 75 matches for PSG before reinventing himself at Inter Miami, where he has managed 77 goals in 86 games as MLS defenders continue to suffer.

Internationally, Ronaldo leads again in goals scored: 144 from 226 Portugal appearances at an average of 0.64. Messi has 115 in 196 games for Argentina, averaging 0.59. But Messi more than doubles Ronaldo’s assist tally for their countries, 61 compared with Ronaldo’s 21.

Whichever way you cut it, the numbers remain close enough to keep the debate alive. Ronaldo still rules the pure goals category, and Messi dominates the playmaking. And while both are deep into their late thirties, the race isn’t quite run yet.