Inter Miami’s preseason plans include participation in the Riyadh Super Cup, meaning Lionel Messi will again share a pitch with longtime Clasico and Ballon d’Or rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
The pair last squared off in January 2023 when Messi played for PSG in Saudi Arabia against Ronaldo and the Riyadh All-Star XI and it’s always fun when two of the greatest, if not the greatest, players of all time both show off their incredible and extremely contrasting skillsets.
Inter Miami faces Ronaldo’s Al Nassr on February 1, three days after they lose 4-3 to Al Hilal. Messi would’ve also matched up with good pal and former Barcelona teammate Neymar, who is with Al Hilal, but with Neymar out injured he will have to settle for seeing ex-Barca mate Malcom on the pitch in Saudi Arabia.
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The meeting will indubitably prod the “Messi vs Ronaldo” debate into the public arena again, though for some it never died even after both players acknowledged the end of its era when Ronaldo left Europe for Saudi Arabia.
Here’s a list of the stats and honors earned by two magnificent players during active careers now in their twilights.
Messi vs Ronaldo: head-to-head record
The players have been on opposite sides of the pitch in several different shirts, as Messi’s been with Barcelona, Argentina, and Paris Saint-Germain while Ronaldo donned the shirts of Manchester United, Real Madrid, Portugal, Juventus, and a “Riyadh XI” in January.
Messi vs Ronaldo W-D-L record in competition
La Liga: Messi — 10W-4D-4L
Champions League: Even — 2W-2D-2L
Copa del Rey: Ronaldo — 2W-2D-1L
Spanish Super Cup: Even — 2W-1D-2L
Friendlies: Messi — 2W-1L
All comps: Messi — 17W-9D-11L
Messi vs Ronaldo W-D-L goals in competition
La Liga: Messi 12 goals, Ronaldo 9
Champions League: Messi 3, Ronaldo 2
Copa del Rey: Ronaldo 5 goals, Messi 0
Spanish Super Cup: Messi 6 goals, Ronaldo 4
Friendlies: Ronaldo 3 goals, Messi 2
All comps: Even — 23 goals
BARCELONA, SPAIN - DECEMBER 08: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus FC and Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona look on during the UEFA Champions League Group G stage match between FC Barcelona and Juventus at Camp Nou on December 8, 2020 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Sportinfoto/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
Getty Images
Messi vs Ronaldo: National team stats
Cristiano Ronaldo stats with Portugal: 205 caps, 128 goals, 46 assists
Lionel Messi stats with Argentina: 180 caps, 106 goals, 56 assists
Messi vs Ronaldo: World Cup history
Cristiano Ronaldo at the World Cup
- 2006 (fourth place): Six games, one goal
- 2010 (Round of 16): Four games, one goal, one assist
- 2014 (group stage): Three games, one goal, one assist
- 2018 (Round of 16): Four games, four goals
- 2022 (Quarterfinals): Five games, one goal
- Total: 22 games, eight goals, two assists
Lionel Messi at the World Cup
- 2006 (Quarterfinals): Three games, one goal, one assist
- 2010 (Quarterfinals): Five games, one assist
- 2014 (Final loss): Seven games, four goals, one assist
- 2018 (Round of 16): Four games, one goal, two assists
- 2022 (Champion): Seven games, seven goals, three assists
- Total: 26 games, 13 goals, eight assists
Argentina’s forward Lionel Messi (C) raises a replica of the World Cup trophy next to his teammates during a recognition ceremony for the World Cup-winning players, following the friendly football match between Argentina and Curacao at the Madre de Ciudades stadium in Santiago del Estero, in northern Argentina, on March 28, 2023. (Photo by JUAN MABROMATA / AFP) (Photo by JUAN MABROMATA/AFP via Getty Images)
AFP via Getty Images
Messi vs Ronaldo: Club stats
Lionel Messi club stats
Barcelona: 778 games, 672 goals, 303 assists
Paris Saint-Germain: 75 games, 32 goals, 35 assists
Inter Miami: 14 games, 11 goals, 5 assists
Total: 867 games, 715 goals, 343 assists
Cristiano Ronaldo club stats
Sporting Lisbon: 31 games, 5 goals, 6 assists
Manchester United: 346 games, 145 goals, 64 assists
Real Madrid: 438 games, 450 goals, 131 assists
Juventus: 134 games, 101 goals, 22 assists
Al-Nassr: 41 games, 34 goals, 12 assists
Total: 990 games, 735 goals, 235 assists
Messi vs Ronaldo: Trophies
Cristiano Ronaldo team honors
- Domestic league: Three Premier League, Two La Liga, Two Serie A
- UEFA Champions League: Five (Four with Real Madrid, one Man United)
- Club World Cups: Four (Three with Real Madrid, one with Man United)
- Domestic cups: Nine — One FA Cup, Two League Cups, Two Copas del Rey, Two Supercopa de Espana, One Coppa Italia, One Arab Club Champions Cup
- International cups: Two UEFA Super Cups
- Portugal: EURO 2016, UEFA Nations League 2018-19
Lionel Messi team honors
- Domestic league: Twelve (10 La Liga, Two Ligue 1)
- UEFA Champions League: Four
- Domestic cups: Seven Copas del Rey, One Trophee des Champions, Seven Supercopas de Espana
- International cups: One Leagues Cup, Three UEFA Super Cups, One Leagues Cup
- Argentina: 2022 World Cup, 2021 Copa America
- Argentina U23: Olympic gold
Cristiano Ronaldo individual honors
- Five Ballons d’Or
- Two FIFA The Best Men’s Player
- Four European Golden Shoes
- Four UEFA Men’s Player of the Year awards
- One La Liga Best Player award
- Two Premier League Player of the Season awards
- Two Serie A Footballer of the Year awards
Lionel Messi individual honors
- Eight Ballons d’Or
- Two FIFA The Best Men’s Player
- Six European Golden Shoes
- Two World Cup Golden Balls
- Three UEFA Men’s Player of the Year awards
- Six La Liga Best Player awards
MADRID, SPAIN - DECEMBER 23: Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid helps Lionel Messi of Barcelona during the La Liga match between Real Madrid and Barcelona at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on December 23, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Victor Carretero/Real Madrid via Getty Images)
Real Madrid via Getty Images