Some claim that Qatar 2022 put an end to the discussion over Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
The most coveted football trophy, the only significant award Ronaldo has failed to win during his long career, fell into Messi's hands.
The captain of Argentina played some of his best football of his career in Qatar, earning him the title of tournament's top performer. In the meantime, Ronaldo came off the bench but was unable to score as Portugal lost to Morocco in the quarterfinals.
What cannot be contested is the amazing careers both players have had, both for their clubs and on the international scene.
If we're talking officially recognized non-friendly goals, Ronaldo is the all-time leading scorer in football history overall and the top scorer in the history of international football.
After receiving a special FIFA award last year in recognition of his accomplishment, Ronaldo exclaimed, "I'm very thrilled." "Becoming the greatest goal scorer in history is a wonderful honor for me. It's a fantastic accomplishment. I'm very happy. I never imagined that I would top the charts one day. For me, it's a huge honor. Becoming the all-time leading goal scorer is fantastic.
With a lucrative contract at Saudi Premier League team Al Nassr, the Portuguese legend, who turned 38 earlier this year, seemed to be winding down the latter years of his career.
Messi, 35, may continue to play at the top level of European soccer for a few more years, but his immediate future is uncertain as his PSG contract expires at the end of the current campaign.
When the two era-defining luminaries do decide to hang up their boots, both permanently and in international football, it will be interesting to think about.
But may Messi top Ronaldo's illustrious international goalscoring record by the time they both retire? We examined the statistics to learn more.
- Ronaldo has scored 118 goals for Portugal in international competition. That is nine more than Iranian attacker Ali Daei, who he passed in September 2021 with two goals against the Republic of Ireland.
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