Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi both enjoyed yet another a goal and trophy-laden season to further inject life into the debate that never ceases.
- Scroll down for goal and trophy stats
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Two of the greatest players of all time had fans purring the world over throughout the campaign with fantastic goals and more milestone-reaching feats that continue to defy belief.
6⃣0⃣0⃣
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) May 2, 2019
🙌 Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi both scored their 600th club goals within days of each other.
📽️ Sit back and enjoy some of these beauties from their iconic careers...pic.twitter.com/I1TGBDuNRQ
Lionel Messi
Messi moved past 600 career Barcelona goals (currently 603 in 687 games) towards the end of a season which had also seen him net his 400th in La Liga and, more importantly, win a club-record 10th Spanish title.
The Barca talisman and captain ended the season with 51 club goals - the sixth time he's reached a half century in a single campaign and 10th in a row he's managed 40 or more - while he was top scorer in La Liga for a joint record sixth time with 36 strikes.
Messi also bagged four hat-tricks to take his career tally of trebles to 51, and the third of these which brought up 50 - as well as his 650th career goal - against with Sevilla in February was pretty special.
🎩⚽️ Lionel Messi's 50th hat-trick also brought up his 650th career goal in quite some style...#FCB pic.twitter.com/Q4nBxo2UN9
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) February 23, 2019
A month later he was on fire again against Real Betis in March with the 51st (click here to watch all three), and you have to say his hat-trick goal was one of his very, very best.
LIONEL MESSI.
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) March 17, 2019
🤯🤯🤯pic.twitter.com/JVgMT6QSBF
You could argue he bettered that with his 600th Barcelona goal, courtesy of this absolutely astonishing free-kick against Liverpool even if it did end up being in vain after 'that' Anfield comeback.
🙌6⃣0⃣0⃣ Lionel Messi's 600th goal from this incredible angle...#FCB #BARLIV pic.twitter.com/v3fcWr0sx7
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) May 1, 2019
Messi's brace in Barcelona's 2-2 draw with Eibar saw him finish as La Liga's top scorer for a sixth time, while also taking his incredible tally of 50-goal seasons to six.
🙌 If another team scored this goal, we'd all be saying "imagine if Barcelona scored that"
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) May 19, 2019
💫 That's how good it is...pic.twitter.com/0jBccaz887
He did admit to still being haunted by the defeat to Liverpool prior to their Copa del Rey final defeat to Valencia but there's no doubt he created many moments to make us all feel like this...
😂 Wonder if Liverpool fans will give Gary Lineker and Rio Ferdinand a warm welcome at Anfield next week?! #LFC #BARLIV #Messi pic.twitter.com/5gqZMNkxnJ
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) May 1, 2019
Messi's season ended in international disappointment when his bid to win a first major trophy with Argentina was thwarted by Brazil in the Copa America semi-finals.
He was then sent off for the second time in his career - 14 years after his first while on his Argentina debut - during the third-fourth play-off victory over Chile.
2018/19 Club Stats
- 50 games, 51 goals, 19 assists, 50 matches, 5 penalties, 4 hat-tricks, 1.02 goal ratio
- Trophies: La Liga
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo began the season in new surroundings after completing a £90million move to Juventus from Real Madrid, where he'd enjoyed a legendary nine-season stay.
He didn't take long to pass more historic milestones, becoming the first player to score 400 career goals in Europe's top five leagues in October - although three months later Lionel Messi achieved the same feat albeit all of his coming in La Liga.
👏👏 Cristiano Ronaldo becomes the first player to score 400 career goals in Europe's top five leagues
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) October 20, 2018
🇮🇹 Juventus record:
🏃♂️ 10 apps
⚽️ 5 goals
🔁 5 assists
🙌 #Juvepic.twitter.com/7trvl42PWb
The spectacular strikes were never far away either, even if he wasn't quite as prolific in Serie A as he had been in La Liga.
⏱️ If only Real Madrid could turn back the clocks...
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) October 28, 2018
🗓️ They lose 5-1 to Barcelona in #ElClasico
🇮🇹 24 hours earlier, Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice for Juventus, including this stunner 🚀
Seven goals and five assists in 12 apps for the Old Lady 👇 #CR7pic.twitter.com/LtnZkpfSdw
It may not have been a winner, but...
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) November 7, 2018
👋 Against his old club in #MUFC
🏆 His first #UCL goal for Juve
⤵️ Latching onto the end of a through ball over the top
🚀 Stunning volley
😏 Typical CR7 celebration
Simply amazing from Cristiano Ronaldo 👇 #JUVMUNpic.twitter.com/O48TYSTA3v
Domestically, Ronaldo was on course to win Serie A title at the first time of asking but he was also intent on lifting his sixth Champions League trophy, so it was all looking good when his eighth hat-trick in the tournament's history - and the 52nd of his career - against Atletico Madrid moved them into the quarter-finals.
Cristiano Ronaldo's hat-trick against Atletico Madrid in all its glory.
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) March 13, 2019
That is some leap.
His 127th goal in UEFA club competitions 😎pic.twitter.com/DRs7Z6nuQB
A shock exit to Ajax followed but he soon brushed off that disappointment to win a league title in a third different major European nation.
🏆🏆🏆 Cristiano Ronaldo has now won league titles in three different major European nations!
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) April 20, 2019
🏴🏆 Premier League x 3
🇪🇸🏆 La Liga x 2
🇮🇹🏆 Serie A #RealMadrid #MUFC #Juventus
🐐 pic.twitter.com/sTSO2Jm5wp
A week later, he pipped Messi in the race to reach 600 club goals first and although he played more games, as you can see from the video below, he was deployed as a winger during his first few seasons at Sporting Lisbon and Manchester United.
6⃣0⃣0⃣ Goals ⚽️
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) April 27, 2019
8⃣0⃣1⃣ Games 🏟️
🙌 Cristiano Ronaldo 🙌
📽️ Here's how he reached this incredible milestone in 17 seasons...#MUFC #Juventus #RealMadrid #CR7 pic.twitter.com/eHdseBK7VH
Ronaldo was not done yet, however, as a sparkling 53rd career hat-trick sent Portugal into the Nations League final just three years after he helped them lift the European Championship.
⚽️⚽️⚽️🎩 Cristiano Ronaldo scores the 53rd hat-trick of his incredible career to send Portugal into the Nations League final...in Porto!
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) June 5, 2019
FYI, Lionel Messi has 51 hat-tricks!
🐐#CR7 #NationsLeague #PORSWI pic.twitter.com/pVMKWUh8WP
The captain did not find the net against the Netherlands but that did not stop him getting his hands on another trophy as his incredible career for club and country reached another pinnacle.
🏆 Cristiano Ronaldo's 24th major trophy for club & country
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) June 9, 2019
🇵🇹 Nations League
🇵🇹 Euro 2016
🏴 EPL: 3
🇪🇸 La Liga: 2
🇮🇹 Serie A
🇪🇺 UCL: 5
🏴 FA Cup
🏴 League Cups: 2
🇪🇸 Copa del Rey: 2
🌎 World Club Cup: 4
🇪🇺 UEFA Super Cup: 2
🏟️ Games: 917 (806 club)
⚽️ Goals: 689 (601 club) pic.twitter.com/RaeCdZ3uyP
🏆 European champions 2016
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) June 9, 2019
🏆 Nations League champions 2019
👏 Cristiano Ronaldo lifts his second trophy for Portugal! #NationsLeaguepic.twitter.com/ptYbc5EDS8
2018/19 Club Stats
- 43 games, 28 goals, 10 assists, 6 penalties, 1 hat-trick, 0.65 goal ratio
- Trophies: Serie A
Messi or Ronaldo: Who is the best?
So who do you think is the best player to watch, the most influential talisman, the greatest 'winner' and the most formidable opponent?
Here's the stats to help you decide...
Cristiano Ronaldo's goals record including internationals
- Games: 961 (804 club)
- Goals: 689 (601 club)
- Assists: 218 (190 club)
- Hat-Tricks: 53 (46 club)
- Penalties: Ronaldo 110 (102 club)
Cristiano Ronaldo's club goals record
- Games: 804
- Goals: 601
- League: 419
- Champions League: 127
- Other cups: 55
- Hat-Tricks: 46
- Penalties: 102
- Sporting Lisbon: 5 (31 games)
- Manchester United: 118 (292 games)
- Real Madrid: 450 (438 games)
- Juventus: 28 (43 games)
- Assists: 190
Watch the video below for a season-by-season tally of club goals...
6⃣0⃣0⃣ Goals ⚽️
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) April 27, 2019
8⃣0⃣1⃣ Games 🏟️
🙌 Cristiano Ronaldo 🙌
📽️ Here's how he reached this incredible milestone in 17 seasons...#MUFC #Juventus #RealMadrid #CR7 pic.twitter.com/eHdseBK7VH
Cristiano Ronaldo's club honours
- Premier League titles: 3
- FA Cup: 1
- English Football League Cup: 2
- Community Shield: 1
- La Liga titles: 2
- Copa del Rey: 2
- Spanish Supercup: 2
- Serie A title: 1
- Supercoppa Italiana: 1
- Champions League: 5
- UEFA Super Cup: 2
- FIFA Club World Cup: 4
Cristiano Ronaldo's international honours
- European Championship: 1 (2016)
- Nations League: 1 (2019)
Cristiano Ronaldo major awards
- Ballon d’Or: 5 (2017, 2016, 2014, 2013, 2008)
- Golden Shoe: 4 (2007-08, 2010-11, 2013-14 shared with Luis Suarez, 2014-15 - 48)
Lionel Messi's goals record including internationals
- Games: 822 (687 club)
- Goals: 671 (603 club)
- Assists: 271 (231 club)
- Hat-Tricks: 51 (45 club)
- Penalties: 84 (70 club)
Lionel Messi's club goals record
- Games: 687
- Goals: 603
- League: 419
- Champions League: 112
- Other cups: 72
- Hat-Tricks: 45
- Penalties: 70
- Assists: 231
Watch the video below for a season-by-season tally of club goals...
👏 What a season for Lionel Messi
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) May 20, 2019
5⃣0⃣+ Goals in a season for a sixth time
3⃣5⃣+ La Liga goals in a season for a fifth time
🔝 Top scorer in Spain for a sixth time
6⃣0⃣2⃣ Barcelona goals in 686 games
🏆🏆 Two more trophies (so far)
📽️ 🔵🔴 Messi's amazing Barcelona stats pic.twitter.com/014bsebCjL
Lionel Messi's international honours
- Fifa U-20 World Cup: 1 (2005)
- Olympic Gold Medal: 1 (2008)
Lionel Messi major awards
- Ballon d’Or: 5 (2015, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009)
- Golden Shoe: 5 (2009-10, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2016-17, 2017-18)
Lionel Messi's club honours
- La Liga titles: 10
- Copa del Rey: 6
- Spanish Supercup: 7
- Champions League: 4
- UEFA Super Cup: 3
- FIFA Club World Cup: 3