Ronaldo has clawed his way back, but he’s still trailing Messi by one record so far (15 vs 16). Let’s see if we can separate them by looking at how they’ve performed for their country teams.
We’ll begin – as most fervent fanboys do – by comparing each player’s goalscoring records.
Ronaldo has scored 123 goals in 200 games for Portugal; a record for the most goals scored in international football matches by an individual. Messi has scored 103 in 175 games for Argentina, coming in third on the all-time goals list, 11 behind Ali Daei (Iran).
Ronaldo also has the most international football caps by an individual (200).
Messi and Ronaldo have both played in five World Cups, sharing the record for the most appearances in FIFA World Cup tournaments by a player (male), however, Messi failed to score in 2010’s tournament, handing Ronaldo the record for the most FIFA World Cup tournaments scored in by a player (5). On the other hand, Messi holds the record for the most FIFA World Cup tournaments assisted in by a player (5).
Although both players have appeared in five World Cups, Messi has played more matches. In fact, Messi has records for the most FIFA World Cup matches played in by a player (26) and most FIFA World Cup appearances as captain (19).
At the 2022 Qatar World Cup, both players registered a ‘first’ in the record books: Ronaldo became the first player to score in five different World Cups (male) and Messi became the first player to assist in five different World Cups (male).
Messi also pulled ahead of Ronaldo for the most Man of the Match awards won at the World Cup (11), after adding five to his collection at the tournament on his way to lifting the trophy.
Ronaldo remains the oldest player to score a hat-trick in the FIFA World Cup, having carried his team to a 3-3 draw against Spain during their 2018 group-stage matchup.
Beyond the World Cup, Ronaldo has set several records in the UEFA European Championships:
- Most UEFA European Championships goals by a player – 14
- Most goals scored in the UEFA European Championships including qualifying matches – 45
- Most appearances in the UEFA European Championships by a player – 25
- Most UEFA European Championship tournaments scored in by a player – 5
Of course, as a South American, Messi cannot compete in the Euros, however, he equally holds the record of most appearances in the Copa America by a player (34, tied with Chile’s Sergio Livingstone).
Messi also set a record in 2016 for the most goals scored by a substitute in a Copa America match, bagging a hat-trick against Panama after coming on in the 61st minute.
