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Every time they shared a pitch

Messi vs Ronaldo — Head-to-Head Record

They have faced each other 36 times over 16 years. Here is every meeting, every goal and what the head-to-head actually says.

Short answer
Messi

16 wins to 10 (10 draws), and Messi has scored in more of these meetings than Ronaldo.

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By the numbers

Metric
Messi
Ronaldo
Total meetings
36
36
Wins
16
10
Draws
10
10
Goals in head-to-head
22
21
Assists in head-to-head
12
1
Matches scored in
16
13
Hat-tricks
2
2

Where they met

El Clásico (30 times), Champions League knockout (2 times), Spanish Super Cup, Club World Cup and friendlies. They have never met at a World Cup or Euro.

The 2011 Champions League semi-final between Barcelona and Real Madrid (4–3 to Barça on aggregate) is the only knockout-round meeting in their primes.

What head-to-head tells us

Head-to-head is a small sample compared with career totals, but it is the only data point where both played the same opponent on the same day. Messi's edge in wins, assists and matches-scored-in is the cleanest direct evidence in his favour.

Frequently asked

+How many times have Messi and Ronaldo played each other?

36 times across all competitions.

+Who has won more matches against the other?

Messi, with 16 wins to Ronaldo's 10. Ten matches ended in a draw.

+Who has scored more goals in head-to-head matches?

Messi has 22, Ronaldo has 21.

+Have Messi and Ronaldo ever played at the World Cup?

No. They have never been on the same pitch at a World Cup or European Championship.

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