Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi each won four Champions League titles. However, Messi's first title came in 2006, while Ronaldo won his first title with Manchester United, then went on to win four more with Real Madrid. Both players have a lot of individual records, but Messi's four wins are the most notable. Here is a look at how Messi fared in his first Champions League final.
First, let's talk about how many goals Messi has scored. In the 2015 semi-final, Messi wrecked Bayern Munich with his amazing movement. In the following matches, he scored two goals against Manchester United and twice against Liverpool, setting up three major chances for team mates. With his scoring record, he has become the most prolific goalscorer in Champions League history. Here are some of his other notable goals.
Leo's last Champions League title came in 2017. He won four trophies with Barcelona in five seasons. In 2009, he scored the winning goal against Manchester United. Two years later, he won the European Cup with Barcelona. As of 2019, he has won 120 goals in 149 games. His first Champions League title came in 2004 when Barcelona beat Panathinaikos. Despite the lackluster performance, he is still one of the greatest players in the world.
Aside from his two UCL titles, Messi has won five La Liga title. Ronaldo, who is over two years younger, is known as a ruthless goalscorer, while Messi is celebrated for his creative goal-scoring abilities. However, Ronaldo has more Champions League titles, five, with Manchester United and two with Real Madrid. If you think Messi has more titles than Ronaldo, it's time you start counting!
In recent years, Cristiano has scored an unprecedented number of goals in the Champions League. In 2015 and 2016, he helped Real Madrid win four trophies, including a stunning overhead kick. That's more than enough for anyone to get enthused about his incredible talent. And with his ability to score, he has become the most celebrated player in Europe. So, who is the greatest? The answer may surprise you!
Both players are highly productive in the Champions League, but Messi has the upper hand in the knockout stage. Ronaldo has four more goals than Messi, but Messi has more assists. The two players have played significantly more games in the knockout stage than their counterparts. So, while Messi may be the most prolific goalscorer in the Champions League, Ronaldo has more assists. If you're looking for a way to compare the two, here are some stats to consider.
While it's hard to compare Messi's success against Cristiano Ronaldo's, the two players have plenty in common. Messi has won six Ballon d'Or awards, the most of any player. Furthermore, he's the top goalscorer in La Liga. With a record-breaking treble in 2008-09, the Barcelona superstar equalled the record of Jean-Pierre Papin.