In Brief

Messi vs. Ronaldo: all-time goals, career statistics and red cards

A look at the numbers behind the world-class duo

All-time career (club and country, but excluding club friendlies)
  • Ronaldo: 773 goals and 225 assists in 1,060 appearances 
  • Messi: 734 goals and 309 assists in 912 appearances 
  • Hat-tricks: Ronaldo 57; Messi 54
  • Career goal ratio: Ronaldo 0.73; Messi 0.81
  • Penalties: Ronaldo 135 (26 missed); Messi 98 (28 missed)
Club career (excluding friendlies)
  • Ronaldo: 670 goals and 194 assists in 887 appearances 
  • Messi: 663 goals and 267 assists in 770 appearances 
  • Hat-tricks: Ronaldo 48; Messi 48
  • Club goal ratio: Ronaldo 0.76; Messi 0.86
  • Penalties: Ronaldo 124 (20 missed); Messi 82 (24 missed)
International career (friendly and competitive matches)
  • Ronaldo: 103 goals and 31 assists in 173 appearances for Portugal 
  • Messi: 71 goals and 42 assists in 142 appearances for Argentina 
  • Hat-tricks: Ronaldo 9; Messi 6
  • International goal ratio: Ronaldo 0.60; Messi 0.50
  • Penalties: Ronaldo 11 (6 missed); Messi 16 (4 missed)
2018-19 final club statistics
  • Messi (for Barcelona): 51 goals, 19 assists, 50 matches, 5 penalties, 4 hat-tricks, 1.02 goal ratio 
  • Ronaldo (for Juventus): 28 goals, 10 assists, 43 matches, 6 penalties, 1 hat-trick, 0.65 goal ratio
2019-2020 final club statistics 
  • Messi (for Barcelona): 31 goals, 25 assists, 44 appearances 
  • Ronaldo (for Juventus): 37 goals, 5 assists, 46 appearances
Career red cards: Messi 3, Ronaldo 11

Messi has been sent off three times in his career - twice for Argentina and once for Barcelona. He saw red just 43 seconds into his Argentina debut after coming on as a sub against Hungary in 2005. He was also sent off against Chile in the 2019 Copa America.

Messi’s third career red card - and first at club level - came on 17 January 2021. In the 3-2 Spanish Super Cup final loss against Athletic Bilbao, Messi walked after VAR spotted him lashing out against Asier Villalibre.

Ronaldo has been sent off 11 times in his career - once for Juventus, six times for Real Madrid and four times for Manchester United.

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