Lionel Messi has scored a brace against New England leading his overall goal tally to 870, sparking debate among the fans whether the Argentinian can surpass Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal number or reach the 1000 goal-mark.
Cristiano Ronaldo, widely regarded as one of football’s greatest goal scorers, has amassed an extraordinary number of goals throughout his illustrious career.
The Portuguese legend has scored 938 goals in 1,280 matches across his club and international career, making him the all-time leading goal scorer in football history. These goals have been scored across multiple clubs, Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and Al Nassr and for the Portugal national team, underscoring his remarkable consistency spans over two decades, with standout performances in the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Saudi Pro League and international competitions.
Ronaldo’s goals includes 763 non-penalty goals, 175 penalties, and 68 direct free-kick goals, showcasing his versatility in scoring from both open play and set pieces. His goal-scoring rate stands at an impressive 0.73 goals per game, and he has contributed to a goal or assist every 88 minutes on average. Notably, Ronaldo has scored 151 headers and 175 goals with his weaker foot. In the last season alone, he has scored 35 goals in 41 appearances.
Will Cristiano Ronaldo Reach the 1000-Goal Milestone?
To reach the unprecedented milestone of 1,000 career goals, Ronaldo needs 62 more goals. At his current scoring rate in the Saudi Pro League with Al Nassr, where he has scored 99 goals in 111 games (a rate of approximately 0.89 goals per game), and considering his continued participation in international matches, this target is within reach. Assuming he maintains his form and plays around 50-60 matches per season, Ronaldo could achieve this milestone by mid-to-late 2026, potentially before the 2026 FIFA World Cup. His recent comments reflect a shift in focus, as he now emphasises living in the moment rather than fixating on the 1000-goal mark, though his scoring output suggests it remains a realistic goal.
Will Lionel Messi Able to Break Ronaldo’s Record?
Lionel Messi, continues to dazzle at 38 years old with Inter Miami in MLS and for Argentina. Despite his age, Messi’s playmaking remains unmatched, due to his ability to make successful passes and dribble effectiveness, showcasing his creative genius alongside his goal-scoring prowess. In the 2024-2025 season, Messi has scored 27 goals and provided 8 assists in 35 appearances, averaging a goal every 105.3 minutes. Additionally, Messi made history in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, scoring against Porto to become the all-time leading scorer in FIFA competitions with 25 goals, surpassing Ronaldo’s 7 goals in such tournaments.
As of now, Lionel Messi has scored 870 goals in 1,111 matches, trailing Ronaldo by 68 goals. With a slightly higher career goal-scoring rate than that of Ronaldo’s. Messi’s efficiency is superior, but Ronaldo’s higher match volume gives him the edge in total goals. For Messi to catch Ronaldo’s current tally of 938 goals, he would need to score 68 goals and to match a potential 1,000 goals he would need 130 goals. Given Messi’s current scoring rate of approximately 0.77 goals per game in the 2024-2025 season, he would require around 88-170 matches to close the gap.
Several factors make this challenging but not impossible. Messi, at 38, is two years younger than Ronaldo, potentially giving him more time to accumulate goals if he extends his career beyond 2026. With Inter Miami also he has been a prolific goal-scorer. However, Messi has faced more injury concerns than Ronaldo in recent years, which could limit his playing time. Additionally, playing in the MLS, which is less competitive in nature, may allow Messi to maintain a high scoring rate but offers fewer matches per season compared to Ronaldo’s schedule in the Saudi Pro League and international competitions. Hence, it is unlikely that Messi could reach Ronaldo’s goal-tally in near future.