Two of soccer’s greatest stars are heading into what will likely be their final World Cups. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi look set to have one last dance at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. This winter’s tournament will be both of their fifth World Cups, so what are the Messi vs Ronaldo World Cup stats?
Messi vs Ronaldo World Cup Stats
Appearances
Messi: 19
Ronaldo: 17
There has only been one instance where one of these two superstars didn’t make it out of the group stage. That was in 2014 where Portugal finished behind Germany and the mighty USA in the group of death.
In that same tournament Messi did what Ronaldo hasn’t done yet and made it to a World Cup final. The furthest Ronaldo has gone in a World Cup is the semifinals in his first tournament back in 2006. Portugal was defeated by France that year.
The world could be in for a real treat this year. With the way the groups were drawn (Argentina in Group C and Portugal in Group H) the only time Messi and Ronaldo would meet in 2022 is in the final. Could you imagine? Argentina and Portugal have never played each other in the World Cup.
Only three other men have appeared at five World Cups: Lothar Matthaus (Germany), Rafael Marquez (Mexico) and Antonio Carbajal (Mexico).
Goals
Ronaldo: 7
Messi: 6
Ronaldo has scored at all four of his previous World Cups while Messi has scored in three of his four.
Both players have had a World Cup where they went off and scored four goals. The 2018 World Cup seriously boosted Ronaldo’s goal stats with a hat trick against Spain and another goal vs. Morocco. Messi netted four in Argentina’s run to the final in 2014. Both players have scored some iconic goals at the World Cup.
#MundialTelemundo ¡Un pedazo de gol! Así narra @AndresCantorGOL el "Hat-trick" de @Cristiano para el empate de #POR sobre #ESP pic.twitter.com/FuJVNrzL2n
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 15, 2018
Throwback to this Leo Messi late winner goal vs Iran in Brazil 2014.pic.twitter.com/cSV7WJdemK
— Messi Arena (@MessiArena) February 21, 2022
Assists
Messi: 5
Ronaldo: 2
Messi gets about one assist per World Cup, however in 2018 he doubled that tally with two. Ronaldo’s two assists have come in the 2010 and 2014 World Cup. Ronaldo’s second World Cup assist is one that Americans won’t ever forget or forgive.
World Cup Records (W-D-L)
Messi: 13-2-4
Ronaldo: 7-5-5
The stat that stands out the most here is that four of Ronaldo’s seven wins came in his first World Cup in 2006. Since then, Portugal has only won a single game at each of the last three World Cups.
Messi and Argentina’s 2018 World Cup was the worst of his career with only one victory that came against Nigeria.
The 2022 World Cup will be here before we know it and we can only hope the best for these two stars that have given us so much entertainment.
