Ronaldo vs Messi at the World Cup: How their stats, goals, assists and performances compare

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 23 May 2023 08:55 CDT
• 6 min read

The World Cup is the pinnacle for any footballer’s career, but it was Lionel Messi who bowed out with a bang as his Argentina side picked up their third trophy.

It was a success that goes a long way to deciding the 'greatest of all time' battle that has he has waged with Cristiano Ronaldo for much of his career, with CR7's Portugal side surprisingly defeated by Morocco in the quarter-finals.

Messi has admitted that the 2022 World Cup is his last, while judging by Ronaldo’s form, there’s little to suggest he will carry on until the next edition in four years, when he’ll be 41. The former Manchester United man has hinted, however, that he might battle on for the time being.

Both players have decent records at the World Cup which they extended upon in their fifth tournament in Qatar this year.

World Cup 2022 top scorers

World Cup 2022: Teams, fixtures, results, favourites

World Cup all-time top scorers

World Cup Power Rankings

So, what are the records for both players like at football’s biggest tournament and how much can change when they take the field in Qatar?

Messi and Ronaldo: how do their rankings compare

Here is how their records compare in the World Cups they have taken part in:

Messi equalled Ronaldo's tally of seven goals in World Cup history after scoring a penalty in the shock 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia in their opening game of Qatar 2022.

However, Ronaldo edged ahead again with a penalty of his own in the 3-2 win over Ghana, giving him the record of being the first player to score at five World Cups.

His lead didn't last long though, with Messi grabbing his eighth World Cup goal as well as an assist just days later as Argentina defeated Mexico.

Ronaldo thought he had netted in Portugal's 2-0 win over Uruguay in matchday 2, however he was deemed not to have connected with Bruno Fernandes' goalward cross and the strike was instead awarded to his former Man Utd team-mate.

Messi missed the chance to score himself in the 2-0 final group game win over Poland as he saw his penalty saved. Ronaldo then drew a blank as Portugal lost 2-1 to South Korea in the final group game.

In the knock-out stages, Messi edged himself ahead of his great rival once again as he opened the scoring in Argentina's 2-1 victory over Australia, netting with a precise shot on what was his 1,000th professional game in his career. It was also his 789th goal in all matches.

Portugal followed Argentina into the quarter-finals with a 6-1 rout of Switzerland, but Ronaldo was benched in favour of Goncalo Ramos, who bagged a hat-trick. He came off the bench late on and had a goal ruled out for offside.

Messi scored his 10th World Cup goal in the quarter-finals against the Netherlands, netting from the spot after also assisting Nahuel Molina's opener, helping Argentina reach the semi-finals.

Ronaldo was benched again for the World Cup quarter-final against Morocco, but came on in the second half. He could not help overturn a 1-0 deficit as Portugal fell to defeat to the North African side.

Messi pulled further clear with another converted penalty as Argentina booked their ticket to the final with a 3-0 win over Croatia.

He then underscored his superiority to Ronaldo in the final as he scored twice in a thrilling 3-3 draw after extra-time with France, before netting his penalty in a shootout as Argentina sealed glory.

Leo has more World Cup assists than Ronaldo, with seven goals created to Cristiano's two.

In the 2022 edition of the competition, Messi is up to three assists while Ronaldo only managed one, in Portugal's opening game of the competition versus Ghana.

Both players have taken part in the World Cup in 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018, with 2022 being their fifth – the joint-most in history.

Messi’s best World Cup finish prior to winning the trophy in 2022 came as a runner-up in 2014 when he scored four goals and provided one assist on the way to Argentina making the final before falling to Germany.

READ: Out of contract in 2023: The best free agents available on a Bosman

READ: Lionel Messi at PSG: Goals, assists, results & fixtures in 2022-23

READ: Cristiano Ronaldo at Man Utd: Goals, assists, results & fixtures in 2022-23

Ronaldo’s best World Cup finish came in 2006, when Portugal finished fourth, with Ronaldo scoring once in that run before his side fell to France in the semi-final.

In 2006 and 2010, Messi’s Argentina lost in the quarter-final, before losing in the last 16 to eventual winners France in Russia in 2018.

In 2010, Ronaldo’s Portugal lost to eventual winners Spain, before a group stage exit in 2014 and another last-16 exit at the hands of Uruguay in 2018.