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International

Argentina vs Portugal: two of the longest international careers in history.

Ronaldo holds the all-time men's international goal-scoring record. Messi closed the gap on trophies with two Copas América and a World Cup in three years.

Caps

192·226

Ronaldo holds the men's appearance record

Goals

116·143

Ronaldo's 143 is the all-time men's record

Senior tournaments won

3·2

Messi: Copa 21, WC 22, Copa 24 · Ronaldo: Euro 16, UNL 19

International stats

6 metrics
192Caps226116Goals14360Assists4730Major tournament goalsWorld Cup + Copa America / Euros + Nations Leagues.2386Goals as captain1003Tournaments wonMessi: WC 2022, Copa 2021, Copa 2024 (+ Finalissima). Ronaldo: Euro 2016 + UNL 2019.2

Messi · 8 senior international finals

4 won · 4 lost

  • Copa America 2007 vs Brazil

    Lost 0–3 — Messi's first senior international final, aged 20.

  • World Cup 2014 vs Germany

    Lost 0–1 (a.e.t.) — Mario Götze settles it in extra time at the Maracanã. Messi wins the Golden Ball.

  • Copa America 2015 vs Chile

    Lost 0–0 (4–1 pens) — Argentina lose on penalties at home in Santiago.

  • Copa America Centenario vs Chile

    Lost 0–0 (4–2 pens) — A second Copa America final to Chile on penalties. Messi misses his spot kick and announces a brief international retirement.

  • Copa America 2021 vs Brazil

    Won 1–0 — Messi's first senior international trophy at the sixth attempt — at the Maracanã, of all places.

  • Finalissima 2022 vs Italy

    Won 3–0 — Argentina dismantle the European champions at Wembley.

  • World Cup 2022 vs France

    Won 3–3 (4–2 pens) — Considered by many the greatest World Cup final ever played.

  • Copa America 2024 vs Colombia

    Won 1–0 (a.e.t.) — Argentina retain the Copa with Lautaro Martínez scoring the only goal. Messi is forced off injured.

Ronaldo · 3 senior international finals

2 won · 1 lost

  • Euro 2004 vs Greece

    Lost 0–1 — 19-year-old Ronaldo's first senior international final — Portugal lose on home soil.

  • Euro 2016 vs France

    Won 1–0 (a.e.t.) — Ronaldo is forced off injured early; Éder's extra-time goal wins it for Portugal in Paris.

  • Nations League 2019 vs Netherlands

    Won 1–0 — Portugal win the inaugural UEFA Nations League at home in Porto.

The shape of the international race

Until 2016, Ronaldo had the only major international trophy of the two — Euro 2016. Messi had reached four senior finals and lost all four. The flip began in 2021: Copa America in the Maracanã against Brazil, the Finalissima at Wembley against Italy, a World Cup in Qatar against France, and a second Copa America in Miami against Colombia. Ronaldo added one in the same window — the 2019 UEFA Nations League — but the goal-record column is now the part of the international ledger he leads on. He sits comfortably clear of every other player in the history of men's international football on goals scored.

Frequently asked

Who has more international goals, Messi or Ronaldo?+

Cristiano Ronaldo, with 143 goals for Portugal in 226 caps — the most by any male player in the history of international football. Lionel Messi has 116 for Argentina in 192 caps.

Who has more international trophies?+

Messi: three senior major trophies (Copa America 2021, World Cup 2022, Copa America 2024) plus the 2022 Finalissima. Ronaldo: two (Euro 2016 and the 2019 UEFA Nations League).

How many international finals has Messi played in?+

Eight senior international finals — four lost, four won. The wins are Copa America 2021, Finalissima 2022, World Cup 2022 and Copa America 2024.

How many international finals has Ronaldo played in?+

Three senior international finals — Euro 2004 (lost), Euro 2016 (won) and the 2019 UEFA Nations League (won).

Who has more international assists?+

Lionel Messi, with around 60 international assists to Ronaldo's 47.

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