AFCON 2025
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Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are widely regarded as two of the greatest footballers of all time, and their rivalry has pushed them to achieve extraordinary feats throughout their careers.
While both have shattered countless records, there are certain milestones set by Ronaldo that appear out of reach for Messi, given their current career stages and playing environments.
Here are five records held by Cristiano Ronaldo that Lionel Messi is unlikely to break, updated with the latest data as of June 7, 2025.
1. Most Goals Scored in the UEFA Champions League
Ronaldo holds the record for the most goals in the UEFA Champions League with 145 goals in 187 appearances, as per UEFA’s official records and recent updates.
Messi, with 129 goals in 163 appearances, trails by 16 goals. Since the Argentina captain currently plays for Inter Miami in the MLS, and given his age (37), it is highly unlikely that he will return to European football to close this gap.
Ronaldo, at 40, continues to play for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League and occasionally competes in AFC Champions League matches, though his opportunities to add to this tally are limited compared to his European prime.
2. Most Goals in a Single UEFA Champions League Season
Ronaldo set a remarkable record by scoring 17 goals in the 2013-14 UEFA Champions League season with Real Madrid, a feat unmatched in the competition’s history.
Messi’s best single-season tally is 14 goals, achieved in the 2011-12 season with Barcelona. He is no longer competing in the Champions League, and Ronaldo’s focus is now on domestic and AFC competitions. This record remains a pinnacle of Ronaldo’s European dominance.
The gap and Messi’s current career trajectory make it nearly impossible for him to beat his great rival.
3. Most International Goals in Men’s Football
Ronaldo is the all-time leading scorer in men’s international football with 137 goals in 220 appearances for Portugal, as confirmed by FIFA and Guinness World Records.
Messi has 109 goals in 187 appearances for Argentina, per recent updates from The Athletic and Goal.com. The 28-goal difference is quite substantial considering their ages.
Messi would need to play several more years at an exceptionally high scoring rate, which seems improbable given his age and career stage.
