Messi’s international retirement leaves five Ronaldo records beyond reach

Lionel Messi’s decision to end his Argentina career has closed one chapter of football’s greatest individual rivalries and protected several of Cristiano Ronaldo’s international records from further challenge.

Messi played his final match for Argentina in the early hours of Wednesday, bringing an outstanding international career to a close. Ronaldo, aged 41, has not officially retired from Portugal and remains keen to continue playing for his country despite his dispute with manager Jorge Jesus.

The two have competed for more than two decades for individual awards and records with both club and country. Ronaldo made his Portugal debut in 2003, while Messi began his Argentina career in 2005.

Messi leaves international football as a World Cup winner, having helped Argentina lift the trophy in Qatar in 2022. He also collected other major honours and surpassed several records held by Argentina’s previous football greats.

Ronaldo’s international legacy includes Portugal’s victory at Euro 2016, as well as a series of records that Messi’s continued participation could have threatened. However, with Messi now stepping away, five of Ronaldo’s landmarks are effectively protected.

Most international appearances

Ronaldo is the most-capped player in men’s international football, with 234 appearances for Portugal. That total could still increase if he returns to the national team.

Messi finishes with 208 appearances for Argentina, having reached that figure in his final match against Benin.

Leading international goalscorer

Ronaldo also remains the leading goalscorer in international football, with 146 goals. His total may rise if his own international career continues.

Messi scored against Benin in his final appearance, taking his tally to 126 goals. That had kept him within range of Ronaldo’s record, but his retirement means the Portuguese forward is no longer under the same threat.

Ronaldo also has the superior international scoring rate, finding the net approximately once every 127 minutes. Messi’s rate is about one goal every 136 minutes.

Goals against the most national teams

Messi’s penalty against Benin took the number of national teams he has scored against to 46.

Ronaldo has scored against 49 different national sides, the highest total recorded by any player. Messi cannot now overtake him after ending his international career.

Scoring at six World Cups

Ronaldo became the first player in football history to score at six different World Cups. He reached the landmark at the 2026 tournament, scoring against Uzbekistan in the group stage.

The achievement means Ronaldo found the net in every World Cup edition in which he played, beginning with his first appearance at the competition.

Messi also featured at six World Cups but scored in five of them. He failed to score at the 2010 tournament in South Africa.

Messi scored 21 goals in 34 World Cup matches, making him the second-highest scorer in the competition’s history behind Mbappe. Ronaldo has 11 goals from 27 appearances.

World Cup qualifying record

Ronaldo is the all-time leading scorer in World Cup qualifying, with 41 goals in 52 matches.

Former Guatemala striker Carlos Ruiz is second with 39 goals in 47 games, while Messi is third on 36 goals from 72 appearances. Robert Lewandowski follows with 35 goals in 46 matches.