As two of football’s greatest players, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have captivated fans for over a decade with their jaw-dropping skills and record-breaking goalscoring feats. Though their storied rivalry in Europe has come to an end, both legends have embarked on new adventures outside the continent.
Messi shocked the world by joining Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, while Ronaldo made history as the first superstar to play in Saudi Arabia with Al Nassr. Despite starting fresh with new clubs, their competitive drive remains strong as ever.
In true GOAT fashion, it did not take long for Messi and Ronaldo to make their mark and hoist trophies with their new teams. Messi captained Inter Miami to their first title in club history by winning the 2022 Leagues Cup โ a tournament between MLS and Liga MX clubs. Not to be outdone, Ronaldo led Al Nassr to glory in the 2023 Arab Club Champions Cup.
Though Ronaldo recently acknowledged their head-to-head competition is over, fans and pundits alike cannot resist comparing the two living legends as they chase more silverware outside of Europe. Messi will aim to propel Inter Miami to the MLS playoffs, while Ronaldo seeks to capture the Saudi Pro League title that narrowly eluded Al Nassr last season.
Regardless of who comes out on top in this next phase of their careers, Messi and Ronaldo’s impact is everlasting. Their jaw-dropping highlights and record-shattering statistics have fundamentally changed how we view greatness in football. Though their storied rivalry has ended, the legacy of these two iconic players will live on for generations to come.
| Stats | Messi (Inter Miami) | Ronaldo (Al Nassr) |
| Games | 11 | 30 |
| Starts | 9 | 29 |
| Sub Appearances | 2 | 1 |
| Goals | 11 | 26 |
| Assists | 5 | 7 |
| Penalties scored | 0 | 8 |
| Hat-tricks | 0 | 3 |
| Free-kicks | 2 | 1 |
| Minutes per goal | 81.3 | 101.9 |
| Minutes per non-penalty goal | 81.3 | 147.2 |
| Minutes per goal or assist | 55.9 | 80.3 |
| Trophies | 1 (Leagues Cup) | 1 (Arab Club Champions Cup) |
Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo was not nominated for the Ballon d’Or for the first time in 20 years (since 2003). The era of confrontation between these two geniuses is apparently over. Nevertheless, this will not prevent them from setting new records. You can bet on Inter Miami Lionel or Al Nassr Cristiano if you mostbet indiron your phone or tablet. Including Mostbet offers betting on individual player statistics, which makes betting even more exciting and varied.
