Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are arguably the two best gamers the sport has ever seen. They’ve scored for enjoyable, created probabilities out of skinny air, and nearly all the time discovered a option to ship when their groups wanted them. They’ve shared a rivalry like no different, difficult one another each step of the means and in the end making one another higher.
In right this moment’s checklist, we are going to take a look at how Ronaldo and Messi dominated the worldwide scene, study what number of targets they instantly contributed to. Proceed studying to discover the place the duo ranks amongst the prime 5 gamers with the most objective involvements in the 21st century.
Stats: Transfermarkt
#5 Luis Suarez (Uruguay): 108 Goal involvements
Instantly contributing to 108 targets throughout his worldwide profession, former Uruguay star Luis Suarez has clinched the fifth spot in the rankings. The Inter Miami man scored 69 occasions and claimed 39 assists in 143 matches for Uruguay between February 2007 and September 2024.
Suarez was considered one of Uruguay’s finest gamers as they received the Copa America in 2011. The previous Barcelona and Liverpool center-forward scored 4 targets and supplied two assists in six video games throughout the event. He additionally showcased a superb run of type in the FIFA World Cup. He performed a complete of 16 World Cup matches, scoring seven occasions and offering 5 assists.
#4 Robert Lewandowski (Poland): 118 Goal involvements
Barcelona sharpshooter Robert Lewandowski is by far the most prolific participant Poland has ever seen. The gifted center-forward has performed 155 worldwide matches in his profession, scoring an admirable 83 occasions and offering 35 assists. Unsurprisingly, Lewandowski is the main scorer in Poland’s historical past.
The vast majority of Lewandowski’s targets and assists have come in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers. He has to this point taken half in 37 qualifiers, scoring 30 occasions and offering 11 assists. He additionally has an honest monitor document in the European Championships, with him netting six occasions in 13 matches. In the meantime, in the World Cup, Lewandowski has solely scored twice and supplied an help in seven appearances.
#3 Neymar (Brazil): 138 Goal involvements
In third place, we have now Brazil celebrity Neymar, with the Al-Hilal celebrity contributing to 138 targets in simply 128 worldwide matches. The previous Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain winger has scored 79 targets and supplied 59 assists since making his senior staff debut in August 2010.
Neymar, who’s Brazil’s all-time main scorer, has not received the FIFA World Cup, however that’s not for lack of making an attempt. He has to this point performed 13 video games in the World Cup, scoring eight occasions and offering 4 assists. His solely trophy with the Selecao got here in 2013, as he pitched in with 4 targets and two assists in 5 video games to assist his nation to the Confederations Cup.
#2 Lionel Messi (Argentina): 172 Goal involvements
Arguably the best soccer participant in historical past, Lionel Messi has been instantly concerned in 172 targets in 189 video games for Argentina. Since making his debut in August 2005, Messi has discovered the again of the web 112 occasions and supplied 60 assists. Messi delivered a masterclass in his final sport for Argentina. He scored thrice and supplied two assists to assist La Albiceleste to a 6-0 win over Bolivia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Over the final 19 years, Messi has guided Argentina to 2 Copa America trophies (2021, 2024), one FIFA World Cup (2022), and one CONMEBOL-UEFA Cup of Champions (2023). Messi was at his prolific finest in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, with him pitching in seven targets and three assists in seven matches to safe the coveted trophy for Argentina. For his exploits, the 37-year-old deservedly received the Participant of the Match award.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal): 178 Goal involvements
Goalscorer extraordinaire Cristiano Ronaldo has secured the prime spot, having instantly contributed to 178 targets in 216 video games since making his worldwide debut for Portugal. Ronaldo, who will flip 40 in February, is the all-time main scorer in worldwide soccer with 133 strikes. He has additionally proven his artistic aspect time and once more over the years, chipping in with 45 assists.
Not like his arch-nemesis Lionel Messi, Ronaldo has but to win the FIFA World Cup. Nonetheless, he has claimed the European Championship as soon as (2016) and helped Os Navegadores clinch the UEFA Nations League in 2019. Ronaldo emerged as a pivotal participant in each tournaments, chipping in with three targets and three assists in seven video games in EURO 2016 and bagging a hat-trick in the 2019 UEFA Nations League semi-final.