A Number Of Records That Can Still Be Broken By Messi And Ronaldo
JAKARTA - Lionel Messi has just left the club where he grew up and became a professional. Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo rejoined the club that made him a world star. Both are probably over 30 years old. However, they remain a top player chasing the few remaining records.
The former Barcelona and Real Madrid player, now both playing outside Spain, has written page after page of football history. They will be remembered forever for what they have done, but also for what they have not accomplished.
What Ronaldo and Messi have achieved so farLeague titles, cup cups, Champions League and even international tournaments, these players have won almost everything they could have at team level.
In terms of goals, the area in which both are superior, Ronaldo is this week the all-time leading international goalscorer with 111. Messi, meanwhile, is the top scorer in La Liga history with 474, and in the Champions League for one team, with 120.
The Portugal forward, however, is the Champions League's top scorer combined for all the clubs he has played for. 134 goals during his spells at Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus.
Messi holds the record for most goals scored in a single La Liga season, with 50, and has won more Pichichi trophies than anyone else. Last year, was La Pulga's eighth trophy.
What Ronaldo and Messi can still achieveRonaldo may already be the all-time leading goalscorer at international level. But Messi could still be South America's top scorer in international football, needing just two goals to surpass Pele's record.
CR7 need just two more appearances to become the top Champions League appearance maker, a record currently held by Iker Casillas, who has 177. Messi has 149 appearances.
Messi has six Ballon d'Or awards and Ronaldo five. For the Champions League trophy, the former Real Madrid player has five, while the Argentina captain has four.
In terms of career goals, at club level Ronaldo has a total of 674, two goals ahead of Messi. Uniquely, he only needs nine goals to overtake Ole Gunnar Solskjaer - his new coach - and occupies 15th place on the Red Devils' all-time goalscoring list with 127. However, he needs more than 155 to enter the top 10.