How do Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup records compare? This debate has dominated football for the past 15 years.
The two players are two of just five players from the 2006 World Cup who are competing in Qatar as well. Both players made their World Cup debuts in Germany.
While Messi and Ronaldo both won the Copa America with Argentina in 2021 and the Euros in 2016, respectively, they have never managed to win the World Cup.
In 2014, when he led Argentina to the World Cup final and narrowly lost to Germany, Messi came the closest to taking home the trophy. The Argentine's efforts in 2014 earned him the Golden Ball, but the highest award narrowly eluded him.
In reality, Ronaldo's first World Cup in 2006 saw him advance the farthest in the competition. Portugal advanced to the semifinals, but a first-half penalty by Zinedine Zidane gave France a 1-0 victory and sent Portugal home empty-handed.
Ronaldo was a star of the 2006 World Cup, which will always be remembered for his wink upon the dismissal of fellow United teammate Wayne Rooney, but his best World Cup moment may have occurred in 2010.
Despite not having won the competition, Messi and Ronaldo do have some extremely outstanding records. Ronaldo became the first player to ever score at five different World Cups after doing so in 2022. Soon after, Messi caught up to him against Mexico, becoming the first player to contribute a goal at five different World Cups.
And who is the best? You're in luck if you want to watch five goats debate who the greatest player in football ever was—Zinedine Zidane, Pele, and Diego Maradona are also up for consideration—because Betway has set up just that.
But if you're boring and won't accept the five goats' point of view as the truth, we did the math to determine how each team's World Cup records stack up.
Luis Messi
Games: 21
begins: 19
Substitute roles: 8 assists and 2 goals.
Punishments assessed: 1 Goal in 225 minutes. 6 minutes equal 257 non-penalty goals. Per goal or assist, it takes 9 minutes. 5 of the 9 World Cups
Three appearances, one goal, and one assist in 2006. Quarter-final.
2010, with five appearances, one assist, and no goals. Quarter-final.
2014 stats: Four goals and one assist in seven appearances. Runner-up.
4 appearances, 1 goal, and 2 assists in 2018. 16-round round
2022: TBD, 2 appearances, 1 goal, 1 assist
Jesus Christ Ronaldo
19 games; 19 starts
No substitutions were made Goals: 8 Assists: 2
Punishments assessed: 3 Minutes per goal or assist: 164.4 Minutes per goal or assist: 328.8 Minutes per non-penalty goal: 205.5
Five World Cups
Six appearances, one goal, and no assists in the 2006 Semi-final
Four appearances, one goal, one assist in 2010 2014 Round of 16 performance stats: three appearances, one goal, one assist 2018 Group Stages: Four games, four goals, no assists Two appearances, one goal, no assists in the round of 16 in 2022 – TBC
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