Lionel Messi shows up Cristiano Ronaldo after reaching goalscoring milestone

03 March 2024 , 01:35

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Lionel Messi reached 500 career league goals by scoring twice in MLS against Orlando City (Image: CHRIS ARJOON/AFP via Getty Images)

Lionel Messi has passed 500 career league goals after scoring twice for Inter Miami in their 5-0 demolition of Orlando City in Major League Soccer.

Messi scored twice in five minutes in the second half to surpass the 500-goal milestone in just his 587th league match. The Argentinian reaches the milestone just over a year after Cristiano Ronaldo celebrated the achievement.

But Messi can boast bragging rights over his long-time rival. While he has reached the 500 league goal mark 13 months later than his Portuguese adversary, it took Ronaldo 654 matches to reach the figure - 67 games more than Messi.

Messi has scored 474 of his career league goals in LaLiga, scoring another 22 in Ligue 1 for Paris Saint-Germain and now taking his Major League Soccer tally up to four with his latest Inter Miami brace. He's scored far more goals since moving to America but the majority (10) came in the Leagues Cup competition before Inter Miami missed out on last season's MLS Playoffs.

Ronaldo, meanwhile, brought up his 500 in just his fourth Saudi Pro League game last February. He scored all four goals in a 4-0 win over Al Wehda and he's since moved his tally onto 534 league goals from 687 games.

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Unlike Messi, Ronaldo's goals come across a far wider range of competitions. He scored three goals in the Portuguese top flight for Sporting CP before his move to Manchester United, where he netted 103 times in the Premier League across two stints.

HAVE YOUR SAY! Who's goalscoring record is more impressive - Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? Join the discussion in the comments section.

Ronaldo reached 500 league goals last year but it took him more games than Messi (Anadolu via Getty Images)

The bulk of his goals also came in LaLiga at the height of his rivalry with Messi. Ronaldo scored 311 league goals for Real Madrid over nine seasons. He also scored 81 times in Serie A for Juventus and now has 36 goals for Al-Nassr.

In terms of overall goals, Messi now has 824 goals in all competitions across 1050 appearances. Ronaldo has scored 877 goals in 1208 games. That means Messi is averaging a goal every 105 minutes compared to every 112 minutes for Ronaldo.

While both are considered two of the greatest players of all time and the debate will rage on, Messi still has bragging rights over the number of minutes on the pitch it's taken to meet the incredible goalscoring milestones his rival has also achieved.

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Rich Jones