Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are arguably the greatest soccer players of all time this sport must have produced. The soccer community is always in a tussle over whom to prefer, Ronaldo or Messi but both of the stars are special in their way.
Recently, there was a lot of noise from soccer fans over who has the most international goals without penalties and friendly matches. Many fans were arguing over their respective favorite player, some believed Ronaldo was 1st while some believed Messi led the charts.
International goals WITHOUT penalties:
Cristiano Ronaldo (94)
Lionel Messi (54) pic.twitter.com/2ZnBJnlZWd— TCR. (@TeamCRonaldo) June 4, 2021
However, according to various reports, Cristiano Ronaldo is miles ahead of Lionel Messi when it comes to competitive international matches up until December 2023. In competitive Internationals, without penalties, Ronaldo has 89 goals whereas Messi has 43 goals without penalties. This statistic shows how ahead Ronaldo is of Messi in terms of competitive international soccer played by the two soccer legends.
International Goals (excluding friendlies):
Cristiano Ronaldo: 97 🐐
Lionel Messi: 47 pic.twitter.com/rEfNwDcpYb— fan (@NoodleHairCR7) June 6, 2022
It remains to be seen whether and if Lionel Messi will be able to catch those monstrous numbers set by Cristiano Ronaldo in competitive international matches. Messi will have to be at his flying best to catch those numbers set by Ronaldo.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi’s total goals scored in 2023
Compared to Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo has netted more goals so far in 2023. Even though they are in their late 30s, both superstars still deliver great performances for club and nation. The 38-year-old Ronaldo, who presently plays for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, has 50 goals in 56 games for his club and nation in various competitions. He averages a goal in every 98 minutes of playtime.
On the contrary, Messi, 36, has 28 goals in 44 games for PSG, Argentina, and Inter Miami in 2023. One goal every 132 minutes is his average. According to these statistics, Cristiano Ronaldo is once again by far the superior player to the Argentine in terms of goals scored in 2023. Not only that, Ronaldo is also the joint-top scorer (50) alongside Erling Haaland in 2023 so far.
Pele retired at 37
Maradona retired at 37
Ronaldo Nazario retired at 35
Zidane retired at 34
Messi has 1 goal in MLS at 3638 year old Cristiano Ronaldo has now scored 50 Goals in 2023 🤯 pic.twitter.com/NaPk868k2x
— fan (@NoodleHairCR7) December 11, 2023
Both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo rank among the all-time top goal scorers in football history, and they have been achieving elite status for almost a decade. The two legends have left an enormous legacy in world football, as evidenced by the figures, and their current stats indicate what incredible longevity the two unanimous GOATs possess.
It remains to be seen how their career pans out in the future as Cristiano Ronaldo seems to have the edge over the World Cup winner Lionel Messi this 2023 year. However, these two players have set the sport alight with their masterful performances and will be talked about by the fans for decades to come.