Messi surpasses Ronaldo at an unprecedented milestone

Lionel Messi has once again made headlines by overtaking Cristiano Ronaldo to become the player with the most goals scored in knockout matches across all competitions.

According to journalist Johnny Cortes, Messi currently holds 159 goals in 245 games, surpassing Ronaldo who has 158 goals in 253 matches. This achievement includes significant contributions from his peak years at Barcelona, where he won four Champions League titles, along with recent goals in MLS and international tournaments with Argentina.

Notably, Messi continues to impress with 20 goals in just 24 MLS playoff matches, proving he remains the "king" in crucial games even at 38 years old. This clearly demonstrates the Argentine striker’s timeless scoring ability, leaving fans in awe.

While Ronaldo, whose career includes Real Madrid (five Champions League titles), Juventus, Manchester United, and recently Al-Nassr, has a total of 952 career goals, Messi is not far behind with 892. However, in knockout matches, Messi leads with an impressive scoring rate: 0.65 goals per game compared to Ronaldo’s 0.62. Remarkably, Messi scores every 104 minutes on average, while Ronaldo takes 111 minutes. This indicates Messi’s higher efficiency in high-pressure games, especially considering he has played fewer matches (891 games versus Ronaldo’s 1,155).

Many fans question whether this count excludes leagues like the Saudi Pro League (where Ronaldo scored 99 goals in 111 matches, according to Soul of Saudi). Johnny Cortes responded that even when excluding less competitive leagues such as the Saudi Pro League and the UNL (which Argentina does not participate in), Messi still leads with 139 goals compared to Ronaldo’s 137. This sparks debate about the fairness of comparing the two legends’ records.

This event is not only a personal victory for Messi but also reinforces his status in the overall "top scorer" race. Messi has shown adaptability and impact across all competitions. Meanwhile, Ronaldo continues to make a significant mark in the Saudi Pro League, although some critics consider goals there to be of lesser value compared to European leagues.