Messi v Ronaldo: the numbers behind 37 memorable meetings

Cristiano Ronaldo paid tribute to Lionel Messi after the Argentina captain announced the end of his international career, renewing focus on the extraordinary rivalry between two of football’s greatest players.

“Leo, so many years defending your country, and a story that will last forever. All my respect for what you have achieved with Argentina. A hug,” Ronaldo wrote in a comment on Messi’s Instagram post on Wednesday.

The Portuguese forward’s message underlined the mutual respect that has accompanied their rivalry for almost two decades. Their individual contest was at its most intense when Ronaldo played for Real Madrid and Messi for Barcelona in La Liga, but the pair have repeatedly shown admiration for one another at award ceremonies, in interviews and away from the pitch.

According to statistics published by Spanish newspaper Marca, Messi and Ronaldo faced each other 37 times. Thirty-six of those meetings were competitive, while the other was a friendly between a Saudi League All-Stars side and Paris Saint-Germain.

Paris Saint-Germain won that match 5-4, with Ronaldo scoring twice and Messi once.

In their competitive meetings, Messi scored 22 goals to Ronaldo’s 21. Messi’s teams won 16 times, compared with 11 victories for Ronaldo’s sides, while nine matches ended in draws.

Their competitive fixtures comprised 18 La Liga matches, six in the UEFA Champions League, five in the Copa del Rey and five in the Supercopa de Espana. They also met twice in international friendlies.

The full competitive record was:

– 23 April 2008: Barcelona 0-0 Manchester United, UEFA Champions League semi-final. – 29 April 2008: Manchester United 1-0 Barcelona, UEFA Champions League semi-final. – 27 May 2009: Barcelona 2-0 Manchester United, UEFA Champions League final. Messi scored Barcelona’s second goal. – 29 November 2009: Barcelona 1-0 Real Madrid, La Liga. – 10 April 2010: Real Madrid 0-2 Barcelona, La Liga. Messi scored the second goal. – 29 November 2010: Barcelona 5-0 Real Madrid, La Liga. – 9 February 2011: Portugal 1-2 Argentina, international friendly. Messi and Ronaldo scored. – 16 April 2011: Real Madrid 1-1 Barcelona, La Liga. Messi and Ronaldo scored. – 20 April 2011: Barcelona 0-1 Real Madrid, Copa del Rey final. Ronaldo scored the winning goal in extra time. – 27 April 2011: Real Madrid 0-2 Barcelona, UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg. Messi scored twice. – 3 May 2011: Barcelona 1-1 Real Madrid, UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg. – 14 August 2011: Real Madrid 2-2 Barcelona, Supercopa de Espana first leg. Messi scored. – 17 August 2011: Barcelona 3-2 Real Madrid, Supercopa de Espana second leg. Ronaldo scored once and Messi twice. – 10 December 2011: Real Madrid 1-3 Barcelona, La Liga. – 18 January 2012: Real Madrid 1-2 Barcelona, Copa del Rey quarter-final first leg. Ronaldo scored. – 25 January 2012: Barcelona 2-2 Real Madrid, Copa del Rey quarter-final second leg. Ronaldo scored. – 21 April 2012: Barcelona 1-2 Real Madrid, La Liga. Ronaldo scored the winning goal. – 23 August 2012: Barcelona 3-2 Real Madrid, Supercopa de Espana first leg. Ronaldo and Messi scored. – 29 August 2012: Real Madrid 2-1 Barcelona, Supercopa de Espana second leg. Ronaldo and Messi scored. – 7 October 2012: Barcelona 2-2 Real Madrid, La Liga. Ronaldo and Messi both scored twice. – 30 January 2013: Real Madrid 1-1 Barcelona, Copa del Rey semi-final first leg. – 26 February 2013: Barcelona 1-3 Real Madrid, Copa del Rey semi-final second leg. Ronaldo scored twice. – 2 March 2013: Real Madrid 2-1 Barcelona, La Liga. Messi scored Barcelona’s goal. – 26 October 2013: Barcelona 2-1 Real Madrid, La Liga. – 23 March 2014: Real Madrid 3-4 Barcelona, La Liga. Messi scored a hat-trick and Ronaldo scored once. – 25 October 2014: Real Madrid 3-1 Barcelona, La Liga. Ronaldo scored. – 18 November 2014: Argentina 0-1 Portugal, international friendly. – 22 March 2015: Barcelona 2-1 Real Madrid, La Liga. Ronaldo scored. – 21 November 2015: Real Madrid 0-4 Barcelona, La Liga. – 2 April 2016: Barcelona 1-2 Real Madrid, La Liga. Ronaldo scored the winning goal. – 3 December 2016: Barcelona 1-1 Real Madrid, La Liga. – 23 April 2017: Real Madrid 2-3 Barcelona, La Liga. Messi scored twice. – 13 August 2017: Barcelona 1-3 Real Madrid, Supercopa de Espana first leg. Messi and Ronaldo scored. – 23 December 2017: Real Madrid 0-3 Barcelona, La Liga. Messi scored. – 6 May 2018: Barcelona 2-2 Real Madrid, La Liga. Ronaldo and Messi scored. – 8 December 2020: Barcelona 0-3 Juventus, UEFA Champions League group stage. Ronaldo scored twice.