Lionel Messi has wrapped up his second season with Inter Miami, and fans are eager to see how his performance stacks up against Cristiano Ronaldo’s record at Al-Nassr.
After crunching the numbers, we have a clearer picture of how these two legends are faring in their respective leagues.
The Transition from Europe
Both Messi and Ronaldo have left their European dominance behind as they embark on new chapters in their careers.
Ronaldo was the first to make the move, joining Al-Nassr in January 2023, followed by Messi’s arrival at Inter Miami a few months later.
Despite being in their late thirties, both players continue to showcase their exceptional skills on the field.
Messi made his debut with Inter Miami when the team was struggling at the bottom of the league.
Since then, he has led them to victories in the Leagues Cup and Supporters’ Shield.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo has enjoyed success with Al-Nassr, winning the Arab Club Champions Cup and consistently finding the back of the net.
Scoring Goals and Staying Fit
Ronaldo has made it clear that he aims to reach 1,000 career goals before hanging up his boots.
His scoring rate since moving to Saudi Arabia suggests he could achieve this milestone sooner rather than later.
Remarkably, he has managed to stay injury-free during his time at Al-Nassr, making 85 appearances since his arrival.
In contrast, Messi has played 39 matches for Inter Miami since joining in the summer of 2023.
Unfortunately, he faced a significant ligament injury that sidelined him for part of the 2024 season, along with other minor injuries throughout his time in the U.S.
A Head-to-Head Comparison
To level the playing field between these two football icons, we compared Messi’s first 39 matches with Inter Miami to Ronaldo’s first 39 games for Al-Nassr.
Both players scored an impressive 34 goals in their initial matches for their respective clubs.
However, Messi outshines Ronaldo in several key areas:
- Non-Penalty Goals: Messi scored 33 non-penalty goals compared to Ronaldo’s 25.
- Assists: Messi recorded 18 assists, while Ronaldo managed only 10.
- Free-Kicks: Messi netted 3 free-kick goals compared to Ronaldo’s 2.
- Minutes per Goal: Messi averages a goal every 89.5 minutes, whereas Ronaldo’s average is 101.8 minutes.
Detailed Records After 39 Matches
| Statistic | Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) | Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr) |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 39 | 39 |
| Goals | 34 | 34 |
| Assists | 18 | 10 |
| Goal Contributions | 52 | 44 |
| Penalties | 1 | 9 |
| Free-Kicks | 3 | 2 |
| Minutes Per Goal | 89.5 | 101.8 |
| Minutes Per Non-Penalty Goal | 92.2 | 138.4 |
| Minutes Per Goal or Assist | 58.5 | 78.6 |
As both players continue their illustrious careers away from Europe, it’s clear that they are still capable of delivering remarkable performances on the pitch.
While both have similar goal tallies after their first 39 matches with their new clubs, Messi’s overall contributions highlight his playmaking abilities and scoring efficiency.
As they push forward into the next season, fans will be eager to see how these legends continue to shape their legacies in American and Saudi football.
Source: MSN