NEW DELHI: Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been two of the most influential players in the last two decades, having won 13 Ballon d’Ors between them and dominating European club football between 2004 and 2022.
Their rivalry in La Liga became one of football’s fiercest contests, sparked by the added friction of Real Madrid (Ronaldo) and Barcelona (Messi).
Now, the two icons have moved in separate ways, with Ronaldo moving to Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, while Messi moved to the United States, joining Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS).
As 2025 comes to a close, Sportstar looks at how the year has been for Ronaldo and Messi:
For Club and Country Combined:
Across all competitions in 2025, Lionel Messi played 54 matches, scoring 46 goals and providing 28 assists. Cristiano Ronaldo featured in 44 matches, netting 38 goals and registering 4 assists.
In International Football:
For their respective national teams, Messi played 5 matches, scoring 3 goals and adding 3 assists. Ronaldo participated in 9 international matches, scoring 8 goals.
In Club Football:
At the club level, Messi played 49 matches for Inter Miami, scoring 43 goals and providing 25 assists. Ronaldo featured in 35 matches for Al Nassr, scoring 30 goals and making 4 assists.
HONOURS: MESSI v RONALDO
Lionel Messi:
MLS Golden Boot
MLS Cup (with Inter Miami)
MLS Most Valuable Player
Presidential Medal of Freedom, United States
Cristiano Ronaldo:
UEFA Nations League 2024-25 (with Portugal)
Primeira Liga Best Player of All Time Award
Saudi Pro League Golden Boot
UEFA Nations League Finals Top Scorer (shared)
All stats have been used from Transfermarkt.co.in
Sportstar