In today’s football, few rivalries match the intensity of Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi. Their clashes in European football competition have attracted fans worldwide, displaying their talent and determination on the grandest stage. This article is to talk about Messi vs Ronaldo UCL known as UEFA Champions League and also Messi vs Ronaldo European football debate.
It is quite obvious the Ronaldo vs Messi debate will never end, with Ronaldo and Portugal dropping out from Euros 2024. Portugal who was knocked out from the tournament by France in a 5-3 penalty defeat.
Ronaldo failed to record a goal in a major tournament for the first in 11 major tournaments he has played for.
Lionel Messi the most decorated player and Argentina emerged the champions of the 2024 Copa America. Lionel Messi managed to record just one goal in the competition. So the debate between both players keep coming up, lets talk about Messi vs Ronaldo UCL stats.
Messi vs Ronaldo European football
Ronaldo and Messi have faced each other a total of six times in the UEFA Champions League, with their numerous battles in domestic leagues and international competitions. Across all competitions, Messi holds the edge with 16 wins to Ronaldo’s 11, and 22 goals compared to Ronaldo’s 21 in their head-to-head matchups.
Man Utd vs Barcelona 2007/08 UEFA Champions League Semifinals
Their first three meetings in the Champions League occurred during the 2007/08 semifinals. Ronaldo missed an early penalty in the first leg at Camp Nou, but Manchester United progressed to the final with a solitary goal from Paul Scholes in the return leg, ultimately winning the title in a dramatic penalty shootout against Chelsea.
2008/09 UEFA Champions League Final
In the 2008/09 Champions League final, Messi’s Barcelona emerged victorious with a 2-0 win over Ronaldo’s Manchester United. Messi scored the second goal, leaving a lasting impression on Ronaldo, who expressed disappointment with his team’s performance.
2010/11 UEFA Champions League Semi Final
The 2010/11 semifinal saw Messi’s brilliance shine as Barcelona overcame Ronaldo’s Real Madrid. Messi scored twice in the second leg, including a stunning solo goal, to secure Barcelona’s place in the final, where they eventually defeated Manchester United 3-1.
2020/21 UEFA Champions League Group Stage
In the 2020/21 group stage, Ronaldo and Messi faced off twice amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Messi scored a penalty for Barcelona in a 2-0 win over Juventus, but Ronaldo stole the show in the return leg with two penalty goals in Juventus’s 3-0 victory at Camp Nou.
Ronaldo vs Messi European stats
According to UEFA official website, both players European statistics shows
Certainly! Below is a table comparing the European football statistics of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo:
| Statistic | Lionel Messi | Cristiano Ronaldo |
|---|---|---|
| Total Goals (All Competitions) | 140 goals in 176 appearances | 141 goals in 180 appearances |
| Champions League Goals | 129 goals in 156 appearances | 140 goals in 181 appearances |
| Assists (All Competitions) | 42 assists | 41 assists |
| Champions League Assists | 39 assists | 36 assists |
| Hat-Tricks (All Competitions) | 48 hat-tricks | 56 hat-tricks |
| Champions League Hat-Tricks | 8 hat-tricks | 8 hat-tricks |
| Titles | 4 Champions League titles | 5 Champions League titles |
| Golden Boots (European Leagues) | 6 Golden Boots | 4 Golden Boots |
| Ballon d’Or Awards | 7 Ballon d’Or awards | 5 Ballon d’Or awards |
Champions league head to head
| Statistic | Cristiano Ronaldo | Lionel Messi |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 140 | 129 |
| Assists | 40 | 38 |
| Appearances | 183 | 169 |
| Champions League Titles | 5 (2007-08 with Man Utd, 2013-14, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18 with Real Madrid) | 4 (2005-06, 2008-09, 2010-11, 2014-15 with Barcelona) |
| Career Hat-Tricks in UCL | 8 | 8 |
This table provides a clear comparison of their UEFA Champions League statistics, including goals, assists, appearances, titles won, and career hat-tricks. It showcases their remarkable achievements and contributions to one of the most prestigious competitions in club football.
With no doubt it now clear that Ronaldo had a better Champions League stats than Lionel Messi scoring more goals and winning more of the competition both at Manchester United and every other club he had played for in his career.
So anytime a football fan or pundit says Messi had a better Champions League career then Cristiano Ronaldo you have to let them know they have no idea what they are talking about.
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