The contemporary era of soccer is controlled by two giants: Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus, Real Madrid, and Manchester United, and Lionel Messi of Paris Saint-Germain. Despite their advanced ages (36 and 33, respectively, as of 2021), the two nemeses have won practically every individual award over the past 15 years and show no signs of slowing down. Which of them is it, as there can only be one? Lionel Messi, the one-team man, or the amazing Portuguese Ronaldo?

Here are three arguments for each side:

Team Messi:

Advanced statistics proves Messi is better

Although both Ronaldo and Messi have amazing statistics, a closer examination reveals that Messi makes better decisions and, more significantly, adds more value to his team. The Economist ranked Messi’s and Ronaldo’s goals based on their context and value, using a framework originally devised for baseball. Expected Points Additional (EPA) is a statistic that ranks goals based on their added win probability. A game-winning goal scored in the final minute is rated higher than the fourth goal scored in a 4-0 victory. Messi has a 59.5 EPA, whereas Ronaldo has a 50.4.

Furthermore, Messi is a better decision-maker. A firm named GoodCall rates a player’s decision-making and Efficiency Per Match using a complicated algorithm (EPM). This comprises assigning a value to each pass, shot, chance produced, or dribble made by a player, as well as assessing the player’s decision-making and efficiency. Messi’s EPM in 2019 was 238 and he made smart decisions 0.63 percent of the time. Meanwhile, Ronaldo’s EPM was 118, and his decision-making rate was only 0.43 percent at the time.

Messi is a better team player

Messi is not only a fantastic scorer and facilitator, but he also improves the players around him. He brings his team together as a great leader. He not only has more assists and vital passes than Ronaldo, but he also makes constant use of his incredible vision to keep his teammates engaged. He possesses excellent tactical awareness, spotting open spaces to go into, receiving the ball and then passing it to a teammate to create assaults.

While Ronaldo is more of an executor, playing high up the pitch and scoring spectacular goals when given the opportunity, Messi, who can do the same, is equally at ease dropping deep and holding possession of the ball with his teammates. He can send his teammates on dangerous runs with pin-point passes from these spots. Because of his adaptability, he outperforms Ronaldo.

Messi’s magic

The main difference between Messi and Ronaldo is their playing style. Ronaldo is a well-oiled machine. He’s a high-octane player with exceptional athletic ability and a wealth of talent. Ronaldo is tall and strong, and he is undoubtedly one of the best players in the world, but he lacks Messi’s magic.

The Argentine has more inherent ability. He is a magician and a virtuoso. His dribbling is regarded as the best in the game, and he passes and shoots the ball with the dexterity of a brain surgeon. He pulls off jaw-dropping stunts that leave people breathless and dumbfounded. It’s incredible to see him weave his way through a defense and then put the ball past the goalkeeper.

Team Ronaldo:

Ronaldo is more advanced player

Soccer is more vibrant and athletic than it has ever been. In most physical aspects of the game, it has become faster, stronger, and more demanding. While Messi has greater potential, Ronaldo’s mix of physical and technical ability elevates him to a higher level. He stands 6’1 and is made entirely of Portuguese muscle. This indicates he’ll be difficult to get off the ball. Ronaldo terrorizes defenses with his dizzying pace, superb dribbling, and strong shooting with either foot.

He’s simply more suited to today’s game. His agility is unrivaled; he mixes dazzling speed with tremendous shooting and NBA-level jumping skills, making his headers a significant threat to opponents. And he’s still doing it at the same level now that he’s in his mid-thirties. More than Messi, Ronaldo represents the best model for the future generation of players.

Ronaldo is the driving force behind his team

Messi has an advantage over Ronaldo in that he has won more titles due to the fact that he plays for a better team than Ronaldo, not because he is a better player. Messi spent his entire career playing for perhaps the best team in the history of the game. Unlike Ronaldo’s team, Messi’s Barcelona colleagues knew each other like family, having played together since they were ten years old, always in the same style and system. Messi’s impact on a squad will be put to the test with his move to PSG.

This isn’t to claim Ronaldo’s colleagues were inept. They were good, but not as good as Messi’s for the most part of his career. Messi has, for example, played alongside Neymar (probably the best player in the world) and Luis Suarez, two of the best forwards of all time, as well as Xavi Hernandez and Andrés Iniesta, two of the most dominant center-midfielders of our time. While Messi has the benefit of being part of a legendary squad, Ronaldo is the driving force behind his success. Messi is similar to Tim Duncan of the Spurs, while Ronaldo is similar to Cleveland’s LeBron James.

The international paradigm:

Ronaldo’s international experience puts him ahead of Messi. Messi, in reality, has never won an international medal. In both the Copa America (South American championship) and the World Cup, he lost finals. Meanwhile, Ronaldo led Portugal to the European Championship title in 2016. Even if Messi leads Argentina to a Copa America victory, Ronaldo’s international accomplishments will be seen as superior. Unlike other sports, international trophies represent the pinnacle of achievement in soccer. Pele’s three World Cup titles cemented his status as the greatest player of all time, and Diego Maradona’s victory for Argentina places him ahead of Messi. Only a win in Qatar in the 2022 World Cup may change that.

The Bottom Lines:

Messi or Ronaldo? On the one hand, Messi is a greater team player and, simply put, a better player. Ronaldo, on the other hand, has a more extensive international career. Are you still undecided? Check out this detailed infographic that breaks down the stats of one of sports’ most fascinating rivalries, then tell us whether you’re on Team Messi or Team Ronaldo.