Ronaldo or Messi – who has scored more goals?

The talk about who was better between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi is certain to go on for many years after the pair lastly hold up their boots, however when all is claimed and accomplished, numbers will inform a lot of the story.

As attacking phenoms, objectives are the chief forex and whoever scores essentially the most by the point their profession ends would be the figuring out issue for a lot of.

Different components within the GOAT debate, similar to trophies received, particular person awards claimed and the massive, inspirational moments will all function, however the stats can have the ultimate say on who the best goalscorer was.

So, Ronaldo or Messi? Which participant has scored extra objectives? Purpose takes a glance.

Ronaldo or Messi – who has scored extra objectives?

Ronaldo has scored extra objectives than Messi total in all competitions, however it’s shut.

Each gamers have scored over 700 profession objectives and they are the only currently active players to achieve that feat.

The duo discover themselves in an unique group, with the one different footballers in historical past to surpass the 700-goal mark being Ferenc Puskas, Gerd Muller, Pele, Romario and Igor Bican.

As an illustration of how far in entrance of their friends Ronaldo and Messi are, the closest goalscorer nonetheless taking part in is Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the Swede has simply over 560 objectives to his identify, regardless of taking part in for longer than the duo.

Portugal icon Ronaldo is older than Messi by two years and 4 months, together with his skilled profession kicking off in 2002-03, two seasons earlier than Messi, who first appeared on the scene in 2004-05.

As such, it’s truthful to say that the previous Actual Madrid star has had the benefit of time over the Argentine.

Ronaldo is the main Champions League goalscorer of all time, adopted by Messi after all, however it’s fascinating to notice that Messi boasts extra European Golden Shoe awards (six to Ronaldo’s 4).

Internationally, Ronaldo has broken the 100-goal mark and is closing in on Iranian icon Ali Daei, who holds the record of 109 goals. Messi lags considerably behind on this entrance too, with simply over 70 objectives for Argentina.

In membership competitors, a comparability of their respective scoring averages means that Messi may overtake Ronaldo supplied he doesn’t retire earlier than the Portuguese.

Ronaldo could have extra objectives total (throughout membership and nation), however Messi is scoring extra on common at membership degree no less than.

After the conclusion of the 2019-20 season, the Barcelona captain averaged 40 objectives a season, whereas Ronaldo averaged 35 objectives a season. It stays to be seen if that type of differential could make up the hole.

Within the meantime, here’s what the numbers had been earlier than the 2020-21 season at a look:

On the finish of the 2019-20 marketing campaign, Ronaldo had scored 638 objectives at membership degree throughout his time at Sporting, Manchester United, Actual Madrid and Juventus. He had additionally scored 102 instances for Portugal, making his whole variety of senior objectives at that time 740.

On the similar time, Messi’s whole of Barcelona objectives was 634, with 71 scored within the albiceleste of Argentina, bringing his whole tally to 705.

Notice that the above desk takes into consideration senior objectives scored as much as and together with the 2019-20 season solely and will probably be up to date accordingly.