Clear evidence shows that Ronaldo has been left far behind by Messi by a huge margin.

Lionel Messi continues to affirm his legendary status by leading Inter Miami to win the 2025 MLS Cup, while also extending his superior record in finals compared to Cristiano Ronaldo in their historic rivalry.

Messi has just added another trophy to his extensive collection, this time the 2025 MLS Cup after Inter Miami’s victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps on December 7th. As usual, whenever Messi lifts a trophy, comparisons about his records arise, especially when contrasted with his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo.

The match against Vancouver started with Edier Ocampo accidentally scoring an own goal in the 8th minute following an opponent’s cross, before Ali Ahmed equalized in the 60th minute. But Messi once again demonstrated his difference: he assisted Rodrigo De Paul to make it 2-1, then set up Tadeo Allende to seal the win, securing Inter Miami’s first-ever MLS Cup.

With this latest title, Messi has participated in 51 finals at both club and international levels (including two-legged finals), raising his all-time record to 30 championships won, the highest in football history. The remaining finals ended with eight draws and 13 losses.

Messi’s most recent club final before the MLS Cup was early 2025, when Inter Miami lost 0-3 to Seattle Sounders in the Leagues Cup final. For Argentina, his previous final was at the 2024 Copa América against Colombia, where La Albiceleste narrowly won 1-0.

Additionally, his two assists in the MLS Cup further strengthen Messi’s impressive record in decisive matches. Across 51 finals, he has scored 35 goals and provided 15 assists, directly contributing to 50 goals, nearly averaging a mark in every final.

Cristiano Ronaldo is also associated with success, consistently ranking among the players with the most titles in history and known for shining in high-pressure moments. However, when comparing his stats to Messi’s, the Portuguese superstar falls short.

Throughout his career, Ronaldo has appeared in 40 finals (including two-legged finals), winning 20. Eleven ended in draws, and nine were losses—four fewer than Messi, but this is because he has played significantly fewer finals.

Ronaldo’s most recent club final was with Al Nassr in the 2025/26 season, where he scored in a 2-2 draw against Al Ahli in the Saudi Super Cup, though his team lost on penalties afterward. For Portugal, he also made an impact by scoring in the UEFA Nations League final against Spain, a 2-2 draw before Seleção won on penalties.

Despite losing his latest final, Ronaldo continues to improve his goal-scoring record in major moments. After 40 finals, he has scored 25 goals and provided 3 assists, a figure far behind Messi’s total contributions in the biggest stages of world football.

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Winning the MLS title, Messi is recognized as the GOAT of football Lionel Messi further cements his iconic status by leading Inter Miami to their first-ever MLS Cup victory, breaking numerous personal records and earning immense admiration from fans. See also