Lionel Messi’s 2024 MLS season with Inter Miami was a resounding success, showcasing his enduring brilliance. The Argentine maestro finished the regular season with an astonishing 20 goals and 16 assists in just 19 matches, becoming Inter Miami’s all-time leading goalscorer.
In the MLS Cup playoffs, Messi continued his impressive form, scoring a goal against Atlanta United. However, Inter Miami’s playoff run ended in a disappointing 2-3 defeat. Despite the setback, Messi’s individual achievements were remarkable.
The Barcelona legend reached the milestone of 850 career goals, a record previously held by his eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo. Notably, Messi achieved this feat in 1,081 official matches, compared to Ronaldo’s 1,179.
While Ronaldo still holds a slight edge over Messi in terms of total goals scored (908), Messi boasts an impressive record of eight Ballon d’Or titles to Ronaldo’s five. Additionally, Messi has won eight FIFA World’s Best Player awards to Ronaldo’s five and six European Golden Shoes to Ronaldo’s four.
In head-to-head encounters, Messi holds a slight advantage over Ronaldo, with 15 wins, nine draws, and 10 defeats in competitive club matches. Messi has also won the 2022 World Cup and two Copa America titles, while Ronaldo has one Euro title to his name.
Currently, both players are no longer playing in Europe, and their rivalry has been put on hold. However, their legacy as two of the greatest footballers of all time remains intact.
