Looking back at all of Messi and Ronaldo's goals for their national teams

Before the opening match of EURO 2024, Ronaldo had played 207 matches for the Portuguese national team in official tournaments and had 130 goals. Meanwhile, Messi's number was 108 goals after 182 matches. This is the most goals and second in the list of top scorers for the national team in history.

List of players with most goals for the national team up to now. Statistics: — List of players with most goals for the national team up to now

Ronaldo's national team career began in 2003, Messi's in 2005. When CR7 first played for Portugal, the two current members of the "European Selecao" attending EURO 2024, Antonio Silva and Joao Neves, were not even born.

Ronaldo and Messi have a similar goal-per-game ratio for their national teams (0.63 and 0.59). If Messi started earlier or finished later than his colleague, he might even up the score.

Messi and Ronaldo are symbols of endurance. Together, they have played 31,462 minutes for the national team (almost 22 consecutive days). To achieve that, in addition to extraordinary will, both M10 and CR7 also showed maximum professionalism.

Number of times Messi and Ronaldo scored against their opponents while playing for their national teams. Photo: The Athletic

To achieve such a terrible scoring record, Ronaldo and Messi need a lot of help from their teammates. In the past 21 years, CR7 has played with 139 teammates. Messi's number from 2005 to now is 168 even though he has played 25 fewer matches than his colleague.

The player Ronaldo has played with the most times for Portugal is Joao Moutinho (111 matches). For Messi, it is Javier Mascherano (111 matches). Messi has played with Angel Di Maria 109 times, meaning Mascherano's record could be broken in the summer of Copa America 2024.

List of names, along with the number of times their national team teammates assisted Messi and Ronaldo. Photo: The Athletic

Ronaldo has 14 goals at EURO (most) and Messi has 13 goals at World Cup, after Germany's Miroslav Klose (16 goals), Brazil's Ronaldo (15) and West Germany's Gerd Muller (14).

Messi has played 3 more international friendly matches than Ronaldo (57 compared to 54) but the number of goals in these matches, El Pulga has more than CR7 by 29 goals. Part of the reason comes from M10's hat-tricks. Messi has so far had 9 hat-tricks in the national team shirt, 6 of which came in friendly matches. Meanwhile, Ronaldo has never scored 3 or more goals in a friendly match.

EURO 2024 is the 11th major tournament Ronaldo has participated in, this number is Messi with Copa America 2024 and 12. CR7 has scored in the previous 10 tournaments while Messi is 9/11 times. The most goals Ronaldo scored in a major tournament was EURO 2020 (5 goals) helping him win the Golden Boot. CR7 was also the best scorer at EURO once in 2012 (3 goals).

Ronaldo and Messi's scoring records in major tournaments — Messi and Ronaldo's scoring records in major tournaments

In terms of scoring style, Ronald is more versatile than Messi. While CR7 can score consistently with his left foot, right foot and head, Messi often only uses his left foot to turn it into a signature move.

Ronaldo and Messi's goals and scoring methods for their national teams. Photo: The Athletic

Ronaldo has scored slightly fewer goals inside the six-yard box and outside the box than Messi. However, he excels at shooting inside the box. Photo: The Athletic

In the national team jersey, Ronaldo and Messi rarely score when the match goes into extra time. Proof is that Messi only did this once in the 2022 World Cup final. The pair usually score the most goals around the 46th - 60th minute (beginning of the second half).

Statistics on minutes scored and goals scored by Messi and Ronaldo. Photo: The Athletic

Finally, the location of the goals. Ronaldo is in Europe so most of his goals will be in the EUROs, friendlies or Nations League. Meanwhile, Messi is more concentrated in South America. The only time they have met in a major tournament (blue and red dots next to each other) is the World Cup.