Has Ronaldo eclipsed Messi as their careers near the end? The answer to this timeless question

There are three things one can watch endlessly: the flow of water, the flicker of fire, and the rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo on the football pitch for over 15 years.

During this time, Leo claimed eight Ballon d'Ors, while Cristiano earned three. Many may debate whether the Argentine maestro truly deserved his individual accolades, but his greatness cannot be denied—just as one cannot ignore the brilliance of CR7.

Dayalisports presents a concise yet well-reasoned answer to the timeless question: Who is better, Messi or Ronaldo?

History is being written before our eyes! Ronaldo scores his 900th career goal

This debate has resurfaced with fervor after Ronaldo surpassed 900 career goals. At 39, the Portuguese icon continues to dazzle, and with his 40th birthday just five months away, it’s clear that the twilight of his career is approaching.

Nevertheless, CR7 is confident that he can reach the milestone of 1,000 goals—“all of which are on video,” a playful jab at Pele, whose tally of 1,081 is often disputed, with official records crediting him with 762.

And what of Messi? Since July 15, Leo has been sidelined due to injury but is expected to return soon. However, it's unlikely the Argentine will surpass Ronaldo's goal tally.

If we assess who is playing at a higher level right now, the answer seems evident: Ronaldo. He is still scoring, running for the full 90 minutes, and consistently performing for both Al-Nassr and the Portuguese national team. Meanwhile, Messi, now playing for Inter Miami at the club level, hasn’t impressed at the Copa América, at least in terms of decisive actions.

But is Ronaldo currently the best player in the world? Perhaps not. The likes of Bellingham, Vinícius, Haaland, Mbappé, and others now hold that title.

When discussing greatness and legacy, many focus on trophies and individual awards. We won't delve into a dry statistical comparison of who won more. Ronaldo has the Euros, Messi the Copa América and the World Cup. Leo is the most decorated player in history, but can greatness be measured solely by trophies?

What truly matters is who Ronaldo and Messi were on the pitch. Both were, without question, the leaders of their teams, capable of single-handedly changing the outcome of a match. In today’s football, no player has even come close to the level that Cristiano and Lionel consistently demonstrated.

Ronaldo is a workhorse. How many times have teammates said he was the first to arrive at training and the last to leave? Just look at his physique—at 39, to be in such remarkable shape... CR7 is undoubtedly the finest athlete. Messi doesn’t possess this.

Messi is a talent touched by the divine, if you will. He sees the game in ways no one else can, even now. He expends minimal energy on unnecessary movements, focusing all his efforts on what truly matters. Leo makes and has made passes that Ronaldo would envy. Cristiano lacks this vision, being primarily a goal scorer.

Pep Guardiola once remarked that the Ballon d'Or should be awarded twice a year—once to Messi and once to someone else. Perhaps this statement needs a slight adjustment: two Ballon d'Ors should be awarded each year—one to Messi or Ronaldo, and another to someone else. These two are from another planet—geniuses, GOATs, extraordinary beyond measure. They have their strengths and weaknesses, but both are undeniably great.

To answer whether Ronaldo has surpassed Messi in the twilight of their careers—no. He is simply continuing to do what he does best, while Leo recovers from injury. If we mention Ronaldo’s 900 career goals, it’s only fair to also highlight Messi’s triumph in the 2024 Copa América. Ronaldo, after all, faltered at the Euros.

• Lionel Messi will miss another Inter Miami match

Let us conclude this brief yet, as it seems, fair reflection with quotes from the two legends themselves about their rivalry.

Ronaldo: “Those who love Messi hate Ronaldo, and those who love Ronaldo hate Messi? Hatred? I don’t see that. The rivalry is over. It was good; fans enjoyed it. If you like Cristiano Ronaldo, you don’t have to hate Messi. We are both very good and have changed football history. We are respected worldwide, and that’s the most important thing. He goes his way, and I go mine. From what I’ve seen, he’s doing well. This should continue—the legacy continues. Rivalry? I don’t see it that way. I’ve said before, we shared the stage for 15 years, and in the end, we’re not friends, but we are colleagues, and we respect each other.”

Messi: “It was a monumental battle. I think our rivalry was beneficial to both of us because we both love competition. He always wanted to win, too. It was a beautiful story for us and for football lovers. What we achieved over the years is invaluable. As they say, it’s easy to reach the top, but hard to stay there. We stayed at the pinnacle for 10, 15 years. It was incredibly difficult to maintain that level, and I believe it will be a fond memory for all who followed football.”