Voted the world's best more times than anyone in history.
Eight Ballon d'Ors mean the people who watch football for a living have judged Messi the world's best more often than any player ever. He holds the single-season record of 91 goals in a calendar year, the most goals and assists for one club in history, and β since December 2022 β the World Cup, the trophy that ends the argument. Ronaldo's tally is monumental and the margins are slim, but for peak genius, sustained creativity and the biggest prize in the sport, Messi edges it. Ronaldo fans are welcome to file an appeal β the desk is open over on the other site.
Head to head
RonaldoNet worth β off the pitch
Off the pitch it's tight. Ronaldo's longer run as the world's highest-paid player gives him the edge on career earnings, but Messi joined the billionaire club in 2026 β both rank among the richest athletes who have ever lived.
See the full Messi net worth breakdown βLive goal race
Goals per season
The case for Messi
- βA record eight Ballon d'Ors β voted the world's best more often than anyone in history.
- βHe completed football: the 2022 World Cup, the trophy that retired every 'but he never...'.
- βThe most goals AND assists for a single club ever, all in Barcelona colours.
- β91 goals in one calendar year (2012) β a record that may genuinely never fall.
- βA genius in a phone box: more dribbles, more chances created, more jaw-on-floor moments.
Where Ronaldo leads
- β’Ronaldo has more total career goals β sheer volume is on his side, and we'll own that.
- β’More Champions Leagues (5 to 4), plus the competition's all-time scoring record.
- β’He's won leagues in three countries and is still scoring into his 40s.