The debate between Messi and Ronaldo has generated a lot of discussion because no single person has ever definitively agreed upon the title, which makes it iconic since everyone has their own opinion. For me the debate ended in 2022 after Messi won the World Cup, but many people continue to discuss it. This is the historic debate.
Lionel Messi stood out among other promising young players who were phenomenal, as he scored 89 goals in 97 matches, making a huge impact on the youth academy and immediately catching the attention of the FC Barcelona president.
In Messi’s debut he scored a goal and created great strategies and great movements to confuse the opposing defense. Everyone was shocked after the game but the presence of a young Cristiano Ronaldo who made his debut in 2002 proved he was made to be on par with the Argentine star. Barcelona’s situation was very complicated, as they didn’t know what to do with Messi, but the training sessions allowed Messi to demonstrate his personality.
The 2009 final showcased one of Messi’s best performances, including a memorable goal, and denied Cristiano Ronaldo, arguably the best player in the competition, another Champions League title. This, of course, led to harsh criticism towards Ronaldo from Barcelona fans, especially since he had won the Ballon d’Or just a year earlier, raising questions about who was truly the better player.
That same year, during the 2008-2009 season, FC Barcelona was crowned the best team in the world, and Messi won his first Ballon d’Or, briefly leveling the playing field in the debate between these two superstars. They have faced each other in approximately 37 matches, with Messi holding the advantage in wins, securing 17 victories compared to Cristiano Ronaldo’s 11, along with 9 draws between them.
While the difference isn’t huge, things change when you consider the impact of Messi’s game, as he consistently contributes to his teams. He’s the one who makes the team play more cohesively, and he’s responsible for maintaining stability on the field. Messi boasts 11 assists, while Ronaldo has only one assist in total across all the matches these two giants have played against each other.
Having said all this, the debate between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo no longer makes any sense because Messi has had a greater impact on football than Cristiano Ronaldo. I also don’t want to discredit Cristiano Ronaldo, who for me is the second best player of all time, and anyone who doesn’t accept this has no idea what this beast has done.
