Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo compared over their last 100 matches

Messi or Ronaldo? How the 2 superstars compare over their last 100 matches

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo continue to command the attention of football fans, even as they enter the final stages of their careers. The Argentine now plays for Inter Miami in MLS, while the Portuguese star continues to score for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League as he closes in on the remarkable milestone of 1,000 career goals.

The 2 great rivals chose different destinations after leaving European football, but both continue to exert considerable influence. A comparison of their last 100 appearances for club and country highlights both their goalscoring efficiency and the increasingly clear differences between their playing styles.

Cristiano Ronaldo has continued scoring since turning 40

The 100-match period analysed for Cristiano Ronaldo dates back to early September 2024. The Portuguese forward has remained Al-Nassr’s leading goalscorer and one of the most important players for Portugal.

The striker endured another trophyless campaign with the Saudi club before finally winning the Saudi Pro League title in the 2025-26 season. At international level, Cristiano Ronaldo added another trophy to his collection when Portugal won the UEFA Nations League in 2025.

Those 2 achievements are even more impressive given that they came after the former Real Madrid and Manchester United star had turned 40. His determination to continue competing at the highest possible level is also fuelled by his personal ambition to reach 1,000 career goals.

Lionel Messi won 2 trophies with Inter Miami

For Lionel Messi, the 100-appearance period dates back to October 2024. At that time, Inter Miami were closing in on the MLS Supporters’ Shield, the trophy awarded to the team with the best regular-season record.

The Argentine enjoyed another major success the following year when Inter Miami lifted the MLS Cup. Messi later came close to winning another world title with Argentina at the tournament staged in North America, but he was unable to repeat his country’s 2022 triumph.

Despite playing outside European football, the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star has remained decisive. His numbers confirm that he has lost neither his goalscoring instinct nor his ability to create opportunities for his team-mates.

Messi holds a 6-goal advantage

The goalscoring difference between the 2 players is relatively small. Lionel Messi scored 86 goals across his last 100 appearances for club and country, while Cristiano Ronaldo found the net 80 times.

The Argentine leads by only 6 goals, demonstrating that both players have continued to score regularly. Messi has also been the more efficient of the 2, averaging 1 goal every 97 minutes. Ronaldo required 104 minutes per goal.

Penalties bring their goalscoring figures closer together

A significant difference can be found in the number of goals scored from the penalty spot. Cristiano Ronaldo converted 20 of his 26 penalties, while Lionel Messi scored from only 5 of his 9 attempts.

The Portuguese forward therefore scored 4 times as many penalties as his rival. Once spot kicks are removed from the calculation, Messi’s advantage becomes considerably clearer. The Argentine averaged 1 non-penalty goal every 103 minutes, compared with 1 every 139 minutes for Ronaldo.

That represents a difference of 36 minutes in Messi’s favour and helps explain why he scored more goals during the period despite taking considerably fewer penalties.

Assists create the biggest difference between the 2 rivals

The biggest difference between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo can be found in their assist totals. The Inter Miami player registered 48 assists across the 100 matches analysed, while the Al-Nassr striker recorded only 7.

Messi registered 134 goal contributions in total, scoring 86 goals and providing 48 assists. Ronaldo was directly involved in 87 goals, scoring 80 and providing 7 assists.

The Argentine averaged 1 direct goal contribution every 62 minutes. The Portuguese star recorded 1 goal or assist every 96 minutes. These figures underline Messi’s considerably greater influence on his teams’ attacking play.

Ronaldo has become a penalty-box striker

In the latter stages of his career, Cristiano Ronaldo has adapted his game and developed into a genuine No. 9. The Portuguese forward now focuses primarily on finishing moves and taking up dangerous positions close to the opposition’s goal.

Lionel Messi continues to combine the roles of scorer and creator. The Argentine regularly drops deeper to participate in the build-up, provides the final pass and can decide matches with his set-piece ability.

Messi also leads Ronaldo for goals scored from free-kicks, with 9 compared with only 1 for the Portuguese forward. The Argentine registered 5 hat-tricks during the period analysed, while Ronaldo failed to record one.

Lionel Messi’s numbers over his last 100 matches

Goals

86

Assists

48

Goal contributions

134

Penalties scored and taken

5 scored from 9 taken

Free-kick goals

9

Hat-tricks

5

Average minutes per goal

97

Average minutes per non-penalty goal

103

Average minutes per goal or assist

62

Trophies won

2

MLS Supporters’ Shield in 2024

MLS Cup in 2025

Cristiano Ronaldo’s numbers over his last 100 matches

Goals

80

Assists

7

Goal contributions

87

Penalties scored and taken

20 scored from 26 taken

Free-kick goals

1

Hat-tricks

0

Average minutes per goal

104

Average minutes per non-penalty goal

139

Average minutes per goal or assist

96

Trophies won

2

Saudi Pro League in the 2025-26 season

UEFA Nations League in 2025

Messi leads the comparison for overall attacking output

Cristiano Ronaldo remains an elite goalscorer and continues his pursuit of the 1,000-goal milestone. His prolific output beyond the age of 40 underlines the Portuguese striker’s extraordinary longevity.

However, the figures from their last 100 appearances favour Lionel Messi. The Argentine scored more goals, provided considerably more assists, was more efficient from open play and registered direct goal contributions at a higher rate.

Both players won 2 trophies during the periods analysed, but they produced their attacking numbers in contrasting ways. Ronaldo is primarily a finisher, while Messi continues to influence matches through both his goals and his ability to create opportunities.

Who is Lionel Messi?

Lionel Andrés Messi, born on 24 June 1987 in Rosario, Argentina, is considered by many experts to be the greatest footballer of all time. During his remarkable career, the legendary Argentine forward represented FC Barcelona between 2004 and 2021 before joining Paris Saint-Germain, where he played from 2021 until 2023. He has represented Inter Miami in the United States since 2023.

Who is Cristiano Ronaldo?

Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, born on 5 February 1985 in Funchal, Madeira, is a legendary Portuguese forward regarded by many as one of the greatest players in football history. His senior career has included spells with Sporting CP in the 2002-03 season, Manchester United between 2003 and 2009, and Real Madrid during a trophy-laden period from 2009 to 2018. He subsequently represented Juventus from 2018 to 2021 before returning to Manchester United for a second spell between 2021 and 2022. Cristiano Ronaldo has played for Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr since the 2022-23 season.