For nearly twenty years, Messi and Ronaldo pushed each other to new heights. From Ballon d’Or races to El Clásicos and unforgettable Champions League nights, they defined an era. Their place in history is safe.
But with both now in the final stretch of their careers, the question is simple. Who is better right now?
Goals
Scoring has always been Ronaldo’s strength. Even at 40 he hasn’t stopped. In 2025, he’s bagged 27 goals in 31 matches, including braces for Portugal and a clutch equalizer in the Nations League final against Spain. At Al Nassr, he’s already hit 100 goals, proving that his finishing instincts are as sharp as ever.
Messi is a different type of goal scorer to Ronaldo, but no less impressive. Across 2025, he’s hit 29 goals in 37 games for club and country. A double in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Venezuela was an emotional send-off in what is expected to be his last competitive game on home soil. In the MLS, he is the second top scorer with 19.
Ronaldo is the more clinical finisher, as has been the case for much of their respective careers.
Influence on the Game
This is where Messi comes into his own. His game has changed significantly over the years. He’s become more of a playmaker that controls the tempo of the game with a magnificent first touch, calmness under pressure and an unmatched eye for a pass. Both Argentina and Inter Miami continue to play through Messi.
Ronaldo’s game has also evolved. He doesn’t press or carry the ball like he once did, instead focusing on his role within the opposition penalty box. Ronaldo is more reliant upon service than he was in his peak but still has the magic and sheer will to win to decide games on his own. He remains the ultimate big game player.
Messi still controls games, but Ronaldo decides them.
Domestic Football
Neither the MLS or Saudi League are of the elite standard that both Ronaldo and Messi were used to in La Liga.
Compared against one another, the Saudi Pro League boasts the star names but MLS has stronger squads outside the big signings.
Ronaldo and Messi are both the undoubted stars of their respective leagues, drawing in the fans and still delivering the goods on the pitch. We’ll call this a draw.
International Football
Internationally, both are still headline acts.
Regular debates discuss whether Portugal and Argentina are stronger teams without either Ronaldo or Messi, but it is still the pair that consistently perform when it matters most.
Injuries aside, Ronaldo is almost certainly on the plane for the 2026 World Cup. Messi – having already won the coveted trophy in 2022 – is more coy about his future, stating he will ‘take his time’ deciding whether to play. Fitness remains his concern, but his form throughout the qualifiers shows he is still able to dictate games at the top level.
Verdict
The rivalry hasn’t ended, it has just evolved.
At a pure individual skill level, Messi edges it. But as Ronaldo hunts for both a first World Cup and the 1000 goal milestone, he has a tenacious hunger that will keep him at the top.
Even now, there is very little to separate them. If you want a player to control and influence a game, that is still Messi. If you want a match-winner who decides games, that’s Ronaldo.
There is only one thing for certain. Our time enjoying Messi and Ronaldo on the pitch is nearing the end. There will be decades to compare and contrast their respective careers. Let’s just enjoy them both whilst they’re still playing.
