The Battle of the GOATs
2023/24 Topps Chrome UEFA Club Competitions Tifo #TF-7 Lionel Messi
2023/24 Topps Chrome UEFA Club Competitions The Grail #G-7 Cristiano Ronaldo
The rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo has spanned decades, and it is through these two giants of sport that the story of soccer in the 21st century is perhaps best told. Their hold on individual accolades, team trophies, and worldwide popularity was staggering in its longevity.
Either Messi or Ronaldo won the Ballon D’Or for ten straight seasons. Just as absurdly, they finished first and second in voting in nine of those ten years. It’s hard to imagine we will ever see anything like it again.
While the battle between the two reached its unparalleled heights when they represented Barcelona and Real Madrid, let’s start by taking a look at their careers as young phenoms taking the soccer world by storm.
2020/21 Topps The Lost Rookie Cards Lionel Messi
2020/21 Topps The Lost Rookie Cards Cristiano Ronaldo
Messi vs. Ronaldo – The Origin Stories
Both Messi and Ronaldo have the sort of origin stories fitting for men who would become legend. For Messi, there’s the moment in December 2000, when Barcelona director Carles Rexach famously scribbled a contract on a napkin such was his desire to keep hold of the prodigy.
Ronaldo’s big-club moment would come in 2003, when he led his first team, Sporting Lisbon, to a 3-1 friendly win over Manchester United. His talent was so undeniable that United players implored manager Sir Alex Ferguson to sign him right then and there. Only six days after he’d torn United apart, he joined up with Ferguson and company, and the rest was history.
2006 Topps Match Attax World Cup Soccer #39 Lionel Messi
2006 Topps Match Attax World Cup Soccer #149 Cristiano Ronaldo
Messi vs. Ronaldo – The Early Days
Ronaldo announced his arrival in Manchester with a spellbinding debut off the bench against Bolton mere days after signing with the club. On May 1 2005, Messi became Barcelona’s then-youngest ever goalscorer. At the beginning, Ronaldo had a bit of a head start. Two years older than the Argentine wizard, Ronaldo had already impressed in the 2004 UEFA Euro, scoring the opening goal in Portugal’s semi-final win over Netherlands before Messi had even made his debut for Barcelona.
By the time they left their first World Cup in 2006, Messi and Ronaldo’s potential for world domination was evident. Messi had become Argentina’s youngest-ever World Cup goal scorer, and Ronaldo was one of the tournament’s breakout stars, helping Portugal to the semi-final. They were both on their way.
2024/25 Topps Match Attax UEFA Club Competitions Gold Edge Edition #GE10 Lionel Messi
2007/08 Topps Match Attax Premier League Hat-Trick Hero #NNO Cristiano Ronaldo
Messi vs. Ronaldo – Taking Center Stage
By 2007, the flashes of brilliance were beginning to overwhelm. In March, Messi, at only 19 years old, scored a sublime hat-trick in a 3-3 draw against Real Madrid. A month later, he scored an iconic goal against Getafe, leaving defenders in his wake on a run from inside his own half. In his 2007/08 campaign, Ronaldo was unstoppable, scoring 42 goals to lead Manchester United a league title and a Champions League crown. In December 2007, Ronaldo and Messi finished second and third in Ballon D’Or Voting. A year later, Ronaldo won the trophy, while Messi was runner-up. They were on top of the world.
2022/23 Topps Crystal Premium UEFA Champions League #LM-1 Lionel Messi
2003/04 Topps Premier League Gold #MU-6 Christiano Ronaldo (first name misspelled)
Messi vs. Ronaldo – The Top of the Game
In 2008/09, Messi took over. With Pep Guardiola as his manager, Messi’s game when to another level. Barcelona won the treble, with Messi scoring in his club’s 2-0 win against Ronaldo and Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League Final. Less than two months later, Ronaldo signed with Real Madrid. In December, Messi won his first Ballon D’Or. The battle was just beginning.
In retrospect, there was something almost quaint about these first years of the rivalry. Winning titles and accolades, sure, but with statistics more grounded to this planet. In 2008/09 Messi and Ronaldo combined for 64 goals. In 2011/12, that number had reached a preposterous 133. Messi/Ronaldo was about to go into the stratosphere.
