The expectant duel between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in figures

One has just been proclaimed world champion, the other is beginning a golden retirement in Saudi Arabia: two living soccer legends, the Argentine Lionel Messi and the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo, will meet again on Thursday in Riyadh during a friendly match that will pit Paris SG against a selection of players from the two best Saudi clubs, Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr.

The long rivalry on the pitches in Spain and Europe between Messi and Ronaldo has also resulted in a battle of numbers.

. 1: If there is a trophy desired by all soccer players, it is the World Cup, lifted by Messi last December in Qatar. It is the latest in a long list of titles won by the Albiceleste captain, who won the U-20 World Cup in 2005, Olympic gold in Beijing in 2008 and the Copa América in 2021. He also won 10 league titles with Barcelona and one with Paris SG.

Ronaldo has the Eurocup title (2016) and a League of Nations (2019) in his record with the national team. In clubs, he has seven league titles with three different teams (three with Manchester United, two with Real Madrid and two with Juventus).

. 2: Two years separate Lionel Messi (35) from Cristiano Ronaldo (37).

. 5: Ronaldo has won five Champions Leagues (2008 with United and 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018 with Real Madrid), for Messi four, all with Barça (2006, 2009, 2011, 2015).

. 5 bis: both met five times in the Champions League, with two victories for Messi and only one for Ronaldo (with two draws). Ronaldo’s Manchester United eliminated Barcelona in the semi-finals in 2008 in the first meeting between the two on the European scene. Messi took his revenge by winning the final of the year 2-0, scoring one of the goals.

. 7: For 14 years, Messi and Ronaldo have shared the Ballon d’Or trophy, except for two editions (Luka Modric in 2018 and Karim Benzema in 2022). The Argentine conquered it seven times (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019 and 2021), the Portuguese five times (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017).

16: the number of victories for the Argentine in the clashes between the two, counting all competitions, 10 for the Portuguese and 9 draws. Messi scored 22 goals in these games, Ronaldo stayed at 19.

. 196: Ronaldo shares the cap record with Kuwait’s Bader Al-Mutawa. The Portuguese is also the top scorer in national teams, with 118.

. 807 (at least): Scoring his 807th goal with Manchester United last March, Ronaldo set a new world record, surpassing Czech Josef Bican’s 805, according to FIFA. With 140 goals, the Portuguese is also the top scorer in the history of the Champions League.

During Euro-2021, he became the top scorer in this tournament, with 14 in five appearances, another record.

In Qatar, he was the first footballer in history to score at least one goal in five editions of the tournament.

For his part, Messi has scored 794 goals since he made his professional debut in 2004: 672 in 17 seasons with Barça, 24 with PSG and 98 in 172 games with Argentina. (D)