A thread: why Ronaldo is superior to Messi internationally https://twitter.com/cristiano_peak/status/1388158137560178692

Messi has 0 goals against Fifa top 10 ranked nations in 9 major international tournaments with Argentina whereas, Ronaldo has 10 goals against Fifa top 10.

List of nations Messi has scored against in 9 major international tournaments with Argentina:

• Serbia-Montnegro
• Peru
• Mexico
• Bosnia
• Iran
• Nigeria
• Paraguay
• Panama
• Venezuela
• USA

Embarrassing

Messi's goals record against South American top 4 in 5 Copa America editions.

• 0 goals against Brazil
--> 2 games
• 0 goals against Chile
--> 3 games
• 0 goals against Colombia
--> 4 games
• 0 goals against Uruguay
--> 2 games

0 goals in 11 games

Messi's assists record against South American top 4 in 5 Copa America editions.

• 0 assits vs Brazil
--> 2 games
• 1 assist vs Chile
--> 3 games
• 0 assists vs Colombia
--> 4 games
• 1 assist vs Uruguay
--> 2 games

2 assists in 11 games

The assist against Chile was in a 3rd position game in which he got a red card and was sent off.

Messi vs Ronaldo in intl knockouts:

Vs Fifa top 10:
Ronaldo Messi
•4 goals •0 goals
•1 assist •3 assists

Vs top 10-30:
Ronaldo Messi
•2 goals •1 goal
•1 assist •3 assists

Vs 30-100:
Ronaldo Messi
• NA •3 goals
•7 assists

Ronaldo has never played an opposition ranked below 30 in an international knockout game whereas Messi plays the likes of Bolivia, Peru, Paraguay, Venezuela and USA, all ranked in higher 40's, 50's and 60's, regularly in knockouts of Copa Americas.

Breakdown of Ronaldo's 10 goals against Fifa top 10:

• 1 vs Netherlands in Euro 2004 SF.

• 2 vs Netherlands in Euro 2012.

• 1 vs Czech Republic in Euro 2008

• 3 vs Spain in WC 2018

• 3 vs Switzerland in UNL 2019 SF

Around 90% of Messi's goals against top Fifa top 30 are in meaningless international friendlies where the opposition were fielding their C squads & their managers were making 6, 7 substitutions in the game to test their bench strengths.

• Brazil made 5 substitutions in a friendly game Messi scored a hatrick in 2012.

• Spain made 6 substitute in a friendly game Messi scored in

• Brazil again made 6 substitutions in a friendly game Messi scored a penalty in 2019.

There were even games where 7 substitutions were made. 5, 6, and 7 substitutions in a game in pre-covid era is not only unusual but also tells us a lot about the quality of friendlies Messi has scored most of his goals in.

Their is also a lot of talk about Messi having more goals than Ronaldo against former World Cup winners.

Messi has 4 goals vs ex WC winners in competitive games. All those 4 against Uruguay in CONMEBAL WC qualifiers.

Ronaldo has 3 goals against ex World Cup winners. All of those 3 against Spain in a World Cup.

Ronaldo only gets to play former champions in major tournaments whereas Messi gets to play Brazil & Uruguay twice every Conmebal WC qualification round.

It is much harder to score against former champions in a tournament when they are fully prepared than scoring against them in WC qualifiers when they are preparing and testing.

Despite all that, Messi only has 1 more goal than Ronaldo.

Now coming to best player awards.

Messi won the WC 14 golden ball for scoring against mighty Iran and Bosnia in the group stages. He went Awol in the knockouts and missed 1 on 1 sitters against Belgium in QF and against Germany in final

Messi wasn't even the best Argentine player in the tournament, let alone the best player of the tournament. Mascherano, Sergio Romero, Di Maria & Higuain all were better

Even Sepp Blatter, Fifa president at the time, admitted Messi didn't deserve the award & called it a mistake

Messi in WC 14 KO:
• 4 games
• 0 goals
• 1 assist
• 2 big chances missed

Ronaldo in Euro 16 KO:
• 4 games (only 25' in final)
• 1 goal
• 2 assists

Argentina played 6 games in Copa America 2015. Messi performed in 2/6 games. Both games against 85th ranked Paraguay

In that tournament, Messi ghosted against Uruguay, Colombia and Chile but won best player for scoring 1 & assisting 3 vs 85th ranked Paraguay. Joke

Despite fan agenda from Messi fans, Messi didn't refuse the Copa America 2016 best player award, instead he refused the Copa America 2015 best player award.

Alexis Sanchez won the best player in Copa America 2016.

G+A in WC knockouts:

Messi & Ronaldo both have 0 goals in WC KOs. Messi has 4 assists but we should look at the quality of those assists

• his assist vs Mexico was an offside goal

• 1 of the assists vs France was a weak shot at goal which took an accidental deflection

Out of 4 assists, 1 assist was illegitimate & 1 was a fluke.

Before Messi, Argentina won 2 WCs and 14 Copa Americas. With Messi, they haven't won any major tournaments.

Before Ronaldo, Portugal never played a final of major tournament, let alone win 1. With Ronaldo, they played 3 finals & won 2.

Ronaldo scored or assisted every goal in the Semifinals leading up to those 3 Finals tells you all about Ronaldo's impact & contribution in Portugal's success.

End of thread

Sorry for the long thread, but it was necessary.

RTs and likes will be appreciated.