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Ronaldo vs Messi: Who has the best record in major international tournaments?

Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi
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A comparison has been made between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi’s statistics across major international tournaments.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been busy smashing records in this summer’s Euro 2020 tournament.

The Portugal captain sits on top of the scoring charts in the Golden Boot race with five goals in only three games and recently surpassed Michel Platini as the record scorer in European Championship.

One more goal against Belgium on Sunday night will see Ronaldo become the player with the most goals in men’s international football history.

Now Planet Football has done the research and answered the big question – who has the better record in international tournaments between Ronaldo and Messi?

World Cup

Ronaldo

Games17
Starts17
Non-Starts0
Goals7
Assists2
Penalties2
Minutes-per-goal211
Minutes per non-penalty goal294.8
Minutes per goal or assist163.8

Messi

Games19
Starts17
Non-Starts2
Goals6
Assists7
Penalties0
Minutes-per-goal270.8
Minutes per non-penalty goal270.8
Minutes per goal or assist125

European Championship

Ronaldo

Games24
Starts22
Non-Starts2
Goals14
Assists9
Penalties3
Minutes-per-goal147
Minutes per non-penalty goal187.6
Minutes per goal or assist89.7

Copa America

Messi

Games30
Starts27
Non-Starts3
Goals10
Assists14
Penalties2
Minutes-per-goal254.7
Minutes per non-penalty goal318.4
Minutes per goal or assist106.1

Overall Records

Ronaldo

Games41
Starts39
Non-Starts2
Goals21
Assists11
Penalties5
Minutes-per-goal168.5
Minutes per non-penalty goal221.1
Minutes per goal or assist110.6

Messi

Games49
Starts44
Non-Starts5
Goals16
Assists21
Penalties2
Minutes-per-goal260.8
Minutes per non-penalty goal298
Minutes per goal or assist112.8
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