Football enthusiasts and opinion leaders have listed reasons why Ronaldo is better than Messi. The debate is likely the biggest in the football scene, with netizens having diverse views on who is the better player. This article lists 10 reasons why CR7 is considered better than Messi.
Cristiano Ronaldo (L) and Lionel Messi are two of the greatest footballers of all time. Photo: @cristiano. @leomessi (Modified by author)
Source: Instagram
Cristiano Ronaldo plays for Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr and the Portugal national team. On the other hand, Messi is the captain of Inter Miami and Argentina’s national team. The athletes have attracted millions of fans worldwide thanks to their exceptional talent. Check out these reasons why Ronaldo is better than Messi.
Reasons why Ronaldo is better than Messi
From their style of play to their physique and natural abilities, these players have earned criticism and admiration almost in equal measure from football fans worldwide. Here are 10 reasons why Ronaldo is better than Messi, according to online sources:
1. Ronaldo is more all-rounded than Lionel Messi
Among the things Ronaldo is better than Messi at is his ability to skillfully use his right foot, left foot, and head. Messi primarily uses his left foot, which is weaker. As of June 2024, CR7 has scored 167 goals using his weaker foot, while Messi has only scored 105.
2. CR7 is more athletic
Cristiano Ronaldo acknowledges the fans as he celebrates victory after the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match against Czechia on June 18, 2024, in Leipzig, Germany. Photo: Alex Livesey
Source: Getty Images
One of the 10 reasons Ronaldo is better than Messi is his athletic build and style of play. Cristiano is 6 feet and 1 inch tall, while his professional rival is 5 feet and 7 inches. CR&’s height advantage gives him better free-kicking and long-range kicking ability, enabling him to jump higher.
Messi’s height limits his long-range shooting ability and jumps. However, he relies on agility and ball control to manoeuvre on the pitch.
3. Cristiano is more popular than Messi
Cristiano Ronaldo is the most followed individual and sportsperson on Instagram, with over 632 million followers (As of June 2024). Messi has 503 million followers.
Ronaldo has endorsed various brands, appearing as the face of products like Nike, Coca-Cola, Tag Heuer, and Fly Emirates. The athlete’s CR7 clothing line has also gained massive popularity worldwide.
4. Ronaldo is the top goal-scorer of all time
Lionel Messi (L) and Cristiano Ronaldo attend a press conference before the FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala 2015 at the Kongresshaus on January 11, 2016, in Zurich, Switzerland. Photo: Philipp Schmidli
Source: Getty Images
Goal scoring is a prominent factor in the article why Ronaldo is better than Messi. CR7’s goal record has set him at the top of the scene for several years. As of June 2024, he has scored 877 career goals compared to Messi’s 822. The Portuguese national also has more hat tricks (63) than Lionel (57).
5. Ronaldo is considered the best footballer in his home country
39-year-old Ronaldo is a national icon in Portugal and is among the best Portuguese players locally and globally. He has scored more goals for his country than any other player and led the team to their first and only major championship, the Euro 2016, as captain.
In Argentina, Messi is ranked among the top players alongside legends like Diego Maradona and Mario Kempes. He has 180 caps compared to Ronaldo’s 208. Ronaldo is the most-capped male player globally.
6. Cristiano boasts higher career earnings
Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in 2023 in a deal reportedly worth over $200 million yearly. According to Forbes, the 5-time Ballon d’Or holder became the first sportsman to surpass $1 billion in career earnings. Lionel Messi’s salary is $54 million.
7. CR7 has more Champions League titles
Cristiano Ronaldo before the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Portugal and Czechia at Football Stadium Leipzig on June 18, 2024, in Leipzig, Germany. Photo: Jose Breton
Source: Getty Images
Winning is everything, and one of the top ten reasons why Ronaldo is better than Messi is his Champions League titles. He won the title once with Manchester United (2007/2008) and four with Real Madrid, three of which were back-to-back (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018).
Cristiano was the first ever player to score in two Champions League final matches for two different winning teams, in 2008 and 2014. Messi won the title four times with Barcelona (2006, 2009, 2011, and 2015).
The Portuguese forward started his career in his home country before joining the English Premier League’s Manchester United. He played for Real Madrid in La Liga and Juventus in Serie A before transitioning to Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.
Messi has also played for Barcelona in La Liga, Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1, and Inter Miami in the MLS.
8. Cristiano Ronaldo has more headers than Messi
The two players have distinct physical features that enable them to perform uniquely on the pitch. Ronaldo’s height allows him to score headers easily. He has scored 147 headers in his career compared to Messi’s 26. One of the most memorable head goals was against Sampdoria during his tenure with Juventus, reaching a height of 2.56 metres.
9. The Al-Nassr forward has more SUCCEED penalties than Messi
Cristiano Ronaldo (L) and Lionel Messi at the UEFA Champions League Group G stage match between FC Barcelona and Juventus at Camp Nou on December 08, 2020, in Barcelona, Spain Photo: David Ramos
Source: Getty Images
According to the reasons why Ronaldo is better than Messi’s stats, Ronaldo has scored 162 penalties from 191 attempts compared to Messi’s 108 from 139 attempts. CR7 is the go-to guy to score penalties. However, the two players have a similar number of missed penalties (27). Ronaldo’s minute-per-goal rate is 112, while Lionel’s is 105.
10. Cristiano has a higher speed than Messi
According to online data, Ronaldo’s highest speed is 34.62 km/h, while his rival’s highest-recorded speed is 32.5kph. Speed is an essential skill for any player, enabling them to pass the ball and swiftly pass their opponents into the score. Ronaldo’s speed is likely the force behind his goal-scoring abilities.
Frequently asked questions
The debate about who is the better footballer of the two pro footballers will likely continue for years. Here are some questions netizens have been asking:
Who is the GOAT of football, Ronaldo or Messi?
The Al-Nassr forward and Argentine team captain have been at it for several years. Both players are legendary in their own right and have bagged numerous trophies and accolades to celebrate their milestones. However, Ronaldo is widely considered the greatest, thanks to his unique capabilities and achievements.
What makes Ronaldo the best?
Cristiano Ronaldo (L) and Lionel Messi at the FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala 2015 at the Kongresshaus on January 11, 2016, in Zurich, Switzerland. Photo: Alexander Hassenstein
Source: Getty Images
Ronaldo boasts more career goals than Messi (877 vs 822). The athlete is also ahead in Champions League titles, and penalties scored, ranking him higher than his rival.
Final word
Netizens have been searching for the reasons why Ronaldo is better than Messi since their rivalry began at the infamous El Clasico featuring Barcelona and Real Madrid. The players have continuously battled it out for the top and continue to enjoy successful careers as the best in their generation.
