Ronaldo vs Messi in 2025: Who is Superior?

The seasons of these two football legends are nearing their final chapters, yet 2025 has witnessed both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo achieving unprecedented milestones, defying the rules of time.

Entering 2025, while most stars of their generation have retired or taken secondary roles, the two greatest icons of modern football continue to display an astonishing passion for the game. At an age when many players are remembered only as memories, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo still consistently make significant impacts for both their clubs and national teams.

For Messi, 2025 is considered one of his most complete seasons since leaving Europe. Wearing the Inter Miami jersey, the Argentine superstar helped the team win the MLS Cup for the first time in their history.

This title not only holds collective significance but also confirms Messi’s true leadership role in an entirely new environment. Individually, he was honored as the MLS Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive year and achieved his highest scoring efficiency since the 2018-2019 season.

Statistics from 2025 show Messi played a total of 54 matches for both club and country, scoring 46 goals and providing 28 assists. On average, every 61.3 minutes he was directly involved in a goal, reflecting his comprehensive playing style.

Notably, during the MLS playoffs, Messi made a strong impression by contributing to 13 goal-scoring opportunities in just 6 matches, becoming a decisive factor in Inter Miami's championship run.

At the national team level, Messi played less frequently in 2025, appearing only 5 times for Argentina. However, he made a difference each time, scoring 3 goals and providing 3 assists against Chile, Colombia, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and Angola, demonstrating that his class remains intact despite reduced playing time.

Meanwhile, Ronaldo had a more prominent year internationally in 2025. With the Portuguese national team, he won the Nations League for the second time in his career. CR7 appeared in 9 matches for his country, scoring 8 goals, including a crucial goal in the final against Spain, reaffirming his composure in decisive moments.

At club level, Ronaldo played fewer games than Messi in 2025, mainly due to scheduling and league characteristics. Wearing the Al Nassr jersey, he appeared in 37 matches, scored 33 goals, and provided 4 assists. His goal contribution rate averaged one every 85.9 minutes, lower than Messi's but still exceptionally high for someone nearing 41 years old.

Overall, combining club and national team performances, Messi scored 5 more goals than Ronaldo and vastly outperformed him in assists. However, the story is not just about numbers. Ronaldo is closing in on the historic milestone of 1,000 career goals, having already reached 956 strikes.

He admitted he hasn’t considered retirement before reaching this special figure. “I still have the motivation; I want to keep playing and chase the goals everyone knows about,” Ronaldo once shared.

Looking solely at 2025, Messi clearly has the edge in overall influence and game management, while Ronaldo remains a symbol of scoring efficiency, ambition, and historic achievements.

Thus, the comparison is no longer about who is absolutely better but about two different definitions of greatness. Their ability to maintain top form at the twilight of their careers is what makes 2025 a remarkable year in football history.