Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have created the greatest individual rivalry of all time, and the debate over who is better is still going on. The illustrious careers of these two great stars are coming to an end as both have retired from top-level football. However, what they left behind for football fans is indelible. Together, they have created many fascinating confrontations, and the question “How many times have Messi and Ronaldo played each other?” is always a topic of interest. Below, Bestsoccertips.com shares the 6 most classic matches when both were at their peak.
How many times have Messi and Ronaldo played each other?
1. Barcelona 2-0 Manchester United – 27/05/2009
The Champions League final between the two giants was also a battle between the two biggest stars in the world at the time. Ronaldo, in his final year at Man United, was keen to win the C1 trophy for the second time in a row as a farewell gift to the fans, but he was not able to do so.
Barca took an early lead through Samuel Eto’o, and they finished the game off thanks to the Argentine superstar. With about 20 minutes left, Lionel Messi suddenly appeared in the penalty area to head a cross from Xavi Hernandez past Edwin van der Sar.
2. Barcelona 0-1 Real Madrid – 20/04/2011
This was the only Copa del Rey final between the pair and the first El Classico in which Ronaldo tasted victory. Having lost three and drawn one of Messi’s first four games in Spain, the former Manchester United star was determined to win this one.
Pep Guardiola’s Barca still dominated possession against Jose Mourinho’s Real throughout the 90 minutes, but Ronaldo shone with the decisive goal in extra time. The Portuguese star jumped highest to meet Angel Di Maria’s perfect pass and headed past Jose Pinto in the 103rd minute.
3. Barcelona 3-2 Real Madrid – 17/08/2011
After a 2-2 draw in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup at the Santiago Bernabeu, Barca needed a home win in the second leg to be on course for the title, and they did. Andres Iniesta had given the hosts the lead at Camp Nou but Cristiano Ronaldo levelled just five minutes later.
The rest was Messi’s display, with a brace, punctuated by a Karim Benzema strike. This brilliant performance from the Argentine superstar helped Barca have a very successful 2011 with 5 championships, and he himself won the 3rd consecutive Ballon d’Or.
4. Barcelona 1-2 Real Madrid – 21/04/2012
Los Blancos are currently leading La Liga with 4 points more than their great rivals and their mission is not to lose at Camp Nou because if that happens, Barca will have a chance to turn the game around. In a situation where they have to win to cut the opponent’s tail, Ronaldo shines as expected.
Sami Khedira put Real ahead after only 17 minutes of play. But with only 20 minutes left, Alexis Sanchez equalized for Barca. The atmosphere at the end of the match was really tense, and then Real fans exploded when Ronaldo knocked down Victor Valdes from a pass from Mesut Ozil.
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5. Real Madrid 3-4 Barcelona – 23/03/2014
One of the highest-scoring clashes between Messi and Ronaldo, and as usual both scored. Iniesta put Barca ahead, but Benzema’s brace sent their fans into a frenzy.
Ronaldo won a penalty and converted it, but Messi was the star of the show. The Argentine scored a hat-trick as Barca beat Real at the Bernabeu. However, it was not a successful season for either of them in La Liga, with Atletico Madrid winning the title at the end of the season.
6. Barcelona 0-3 Juventus – 08/12/2020
This was the final confrontation between Messi and Ronaldo and it took place in the group stage of the 2020 Champions League. Ronaldo was finally the one to enjoy the joy of victory when he scored 2 goals against Barca. It also ended the series of tense confrontations between him and Messi after many years of standing at the top.
In all, these two outstanding people have faced each other in a total of 36 matches, in which Lionel Messi is better with 16 wins and 9 draws. In terms of individual achievements, Messi scored 22 goals, slightly better than Ronaldo with 21 goals.
To Wrap It Up
Any comparison of who is better is lame because it depends on many factors, because after all, football is a team sport. However, when we ask the question “How many times have Messi and Ronaldo played each other?”, we are not only looking at the matches they faced, but also paying tribute to the two legends who together created a unique rivalry in football history. We should be happy to have witnessed the great moments and dramatic confrontations between Messi and Ronaldo, who forever changed the face of the sport.
See also: Ronaldo and Messi on the same team: Challenges and opportunities
