Cristiano Ronaldo’s illustrious all-time goal record faces a looming threat. Catalyzed by Transfermarkt’s consequential choice to erase statistics related to the Arab Club Championship Cup from Ronaldo’s profile in their comprehensive database.
The genesis of this development traces back to Al-Nassr’s triumph, where the Saudi Arabian Minister of Sports lauded the tournament’s quality, despite its designation as a ‘friendly tournament.’
Some people are suggesting that perhaps the words of the Minister of Sports of Saudi Arabia have been taken out of context.
Here is the full transcription of the interview for reference:
"In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate. Let me begin with…
— Míchel Acosta (@michelac0sta) August 13, 2023
The interview ignited a spirited online discourse questioning the tournament’s authenticity as a competitive tournament for record-keeping. The debate’s intricacies deepened as diverse fan segments highlighted that the competition had recognition from FIFA, while counterclaims contested this validation.
During this deliberation, Transfermarkt, a notable soccer website, decisively opted to expunge the competition’s records, including individual statistics. This weighty decision reverberates through Ronaldo’s career goal tally, as he had notched six goals in this particular competition.
Consequently, his career total now stands at 838 goals across all competitions for club and country, merely 21 goals ahead of his eternal rival, Lionel Messi.
Holding a revered status within the soccer community, Transfermarkt, a Germany-based website, is acclaimed for its soccer database. Its authority is acknowledged by experts and journalists who traverse the intricate landscape of soccer analysis and reporting.
Lionel Messi is now only 21 Goals behind Cristiano Ronaldo in career goals
Transfermarkt’s consequential choice has rekindled the focus on the ongoing duel between soccer icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in terms of career goals. According to Transfermarkt’s records, Lionel Messi has scored 817 Goals from 1036 Appearances, while Ronaldo’s tally is at 838 Goals across 1170 appearances.
Diving deeper into this, Messi has scored 103 Goals in 175 appearances for Argentina, while Ronaldo has scored 123 goals in 200 appearances.
In club competition, Messi has scored 714 Goals in 861 Appearances, while Ronaldo has scored 715 Goals in 970 Appearances. The club statistics include the exploits of Messi and Ronaldo in the USA and Saudi Arabia respectively.
🚨BREAKING: Transfermarkt have removed the Arab Club Cup stats and the trophy from Ronaldo’s profile, they have seemingly confirmed that it was a FRIENDLY competition.
Leo Messi is now just 21⚽️ away from being the Top scorer in HISTORY!
LM: 817⚽️44🏆
CR: 838⚽️34🏆 pic.twitter.com/gZSZNsvuQb— MC (@CrewsMat10) August 23, 2023
For soccer purists who only prefer European soccer at the club level, Messi has scored 807 Goals in 1028 appearances in Europe, which is less than the 824 Goals scored by Ronaldo in 1149 appearances in the same continent.
Throughout their storied rivalry, these perennial adversaries have perpetually locked horns for an array of honors. Yet, this recent development casts a spotlight on this specific record, laden with significance for both fan bases, serving as a point of contention for bragging rights.
With Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi advancing into the twilight phase of their illustrious careers, the climactic zenith of this rivalry draws near. Notably, Messi enjoys a two-year age advantage, but Ronaldo’s enduring fitness levels negate this disparity, substantiating that a mere two-year discrepancy carries minimal impact.