Updated: 28 May 2026 12:13 BST |
4 min read
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are widely considered to be the two greatest football players in history, and their rivalry has been a joy to watch during the 21st century.
Despite nearing the end of their careers, both players remain active and although they have been linked with retirement, they will resume their battle at the 2026 World Cup in North America.
The 2022 tournament in Qatar was expected to be the last time we saw either superstar at the World Cup, but both superstars have extended their careers and will be in action at this summer’s edition.
So, how do their World Cup records compare?
Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi at the World Cup: How do they compare?
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Lionel Messi | |
|---|---|---|
| Games Played | 22 | 26 |
| Minutes | 1790 | 2315 |
| Goals | 8 | 13 |
| Assists | 2 | 7 |
Ronaldo headed into the 2022 World Cup with more goals at the tournament than Messi (seven to six), but the Argentina legend is now well clear of his arch-rival (13 to eight) following a superb tournament in Qatar.
Messi equalled Ronaldo’s tally of seven goals in World Cup history after scoring a penalty in a shock 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia in their opening game of Qatar 2022.
However, Ronaldo edged ahead again with a penalty of his own in Portugal’s 3-2 win over Ghana, giving him the record of being the first player to score at five World Cups.
His lead didn’t last long though, with Messi grabbing his eighth World Cup goal as well as an assist just days later as Argentina defeated Mexico.
Ronaldo thought he had netted in Portugal’s 2-0 win over Uruguay, however he was deemed not to have connected with Bruno Fernandes’ goalward cross and the strike was instead awarded to his former Man Utd team-mate.
Meanwhile, Messi missed the chance to score himself in Argentina’s 2-0 final group game win over Poland as he saw his penalty saved. However, in the knockout stages, Messi edged himself ahead of his great rival once again as he opened the scoring in Argentina’s 2-1 victory over Australia, netting with a precise shot in what was his 1,000th professional game in his career. It was his 789th goal in all matches.
Portugal followed Argentina into the quarter-finals with a 6-1 rout of Switzerland, but Ronaldo was benched in favour of Goncalo Ramos, who bagged a hat-trick. He came off the bench late on and had a goal ruled out for offside.
Messi scored his 10th World Cup goal in the quarter-finals against the Netherlands, netting from the spot after assisting Nahuel Molina’s opener, helping Argentina reach the semi-finals.
Messi pulled further clear with another converted penalty as Argentina booked their ticket to the final with a 3-0 win over Croatia.
He then underscored his superiority to Ronaldo in the final as he scored twice in a thrilling 3-3 draw after extra-time with France, before netting his penalty in a shootout as Argentina sealed glory.
Messi also has more World Cup than Ronaldo, with seven goals created to Cristiano’s two.
Both players have taken part in the World Cup in 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018, with 2022 being their fifth – the joint-most in history. They will therefore become the first players in history to play in six World Cups later this year.
Messi’s best World Cup finish prior to winning the trophy in 2022 came as a runner-up in 2014 when he scored four goals and provided one assist on the way to Argentina making the final before falling to Germany.
Ronaldo’s best World Cup finish came in 2006, when Portugal finished fourth, with the then-Man Utd winger scoring once before his side fell to France in the semi-final.
In 2006 and 2010, Messi’s Argentina lost in the quarter-finals, before losing in the last-16 to eventual winners France in Russia in 2018.
In 2010, Ronaldo’s Portugal lost to eventual winners Spain, before a group stage exit in 2014 and a last-16 exit at the hands of Uruguay in 2018. Portugal were knocked out of the 2022 tournament by Morocco in the quarter-finals.
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