Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi: Who has the better World Cup stats?

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are both approaching what will almost certainly be their final ever World Cup tournament.

Bearing in mind that Messi first flirted with international retirement as long ago as 2016, the subtext is almost universally agreed that Qatar 2022 will be his final throw of the dice.

And while you wouldn’t put it past the evergreen Ronaldo to rock up at the 2026 tournament at 41 years old, even the great man himself must surely concede that it would be a bridge too far.

As such, the stakes could hardly be higher going into the World Cup’s first ever winter edition with the crowning jewel of the beautiful game playing such a key role in the wider GOAT debate.

After all, both Ronaldo and Messi are currently lacking that most sought after trophy that sits upon the mantelpieces of other GOAT contenders like Diego Maradona, Pele and Ronaldo Nazario.

And although, sure, there are many legitimate arguments as to why World Cup wins can be a little overrated, we all know well that one of either Messi or Ronaldo lifting the golden statue on December 18 would be a massive game-changer for their respective legacies.

Both Argentina and Portugal certainly have the ammunition to go all the way this winter, but turning that quality into seven world-class performances on the bounce is another thing entirely.

However, as we wait to see how the Messi vs Ronaldo and GOAT debates might change drastically upon the arrival of this year’s tournament, we can take stock of how the two legends have performed on the biggest stage of all so far.

Yes, they both have a big fat ‘0’ in their columns for World Cup titles lifted, but we can of course still look at who’s scored the most goals, who’s won the most Man of the Match