Messi vs. Ronaldo: The Ongoing Rivalry for Football Greatness
The competition between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo continues to captivate football fans around the world. Both players have set extraordinary records throughout their careers, showcasing their unique talents on the field. Recently, Ronaldo made headlines by reaching a remarkable milestone of 901 career goals, becoming the first player in history to achieve this feat. His latest goals came during Portugal's victories against Croatia and Scotland in the European Nations League, where he scored his 900th and 901st goals respectively.
In contrast, while Ronaldo has excelled in scoring, Messi has distinguished himself as a playmaker, contributing significantly to both goals scored and assists. According to recent statistics, Messi has contributed to a staggering 1,212 goals in the 21st century, surpassing Ronaldo's 1,155 contributions. Messi's impressive tally includes 838 goals and 374 assists, highlighting his dual threat as both a scorer and creator of goals.
As the debate over who is the greatest football player of all time rages on, fans can look to the latest rankings of the top players who have contributed to goals in the 21st century. Here are the top contenders:
- Lionel Messi (Argentina) - 1212 contributions (838 goals, 374 assists)
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) - 1155 contributions (901 goals, 254 assists)
- Luis Suarez (Uruguay) - 804 contributions (580 goals, 224 assists)
- Robert Lewandowski (Poland) - 799 contributions (657 goals, 142 assists)
- Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden) - 726 contributions (567 goals, 159 assists)
- Karim Benzema (France) - 660 contributions (478 goals, 182 assists)
- Thierry Henry (France) - 647 contributions (411 goals, 236 assists)
- Neymar (Brazil) - 646 contributions (440 goals, 206 assists)
- Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon) - 546 contributions (426 goals, 138 assists)
- Sergio Aguero (Argentina) - 544 contributions (426 goals, 118 assists)
As the footballing world continues to witness the feats of these two legends, fans eagerly await what records they will break next.
