Debunking the myth Lionel Messi is a better GOAL-SCORER than Cristiano Ronaldo.

[THREAD]

Ok the main argument for Messi being a better goal-scorer is that he have better career goal ratio.
But keep in mind that Ronaldo started his career as a midfielder and Messi as a forward.

Career Goal Ratio-

[OVERALL]
: 0.80
: 0.73

[UCL]
: 0.80
: 0.76

Let's look deeper into their ratio -

Before 2008
[OVERALL]

: 0.40
: 0.31

2008-2020
[OVERALL]

: 0.86
: 0.90

When both played in Spain {2009-2018}

[OVERALL]
Messi: 0.99
Ronaldo: 1.03

[UCL]
Messi: 0.90
Ronaldo: 1.04

Before you say Messi played more deep in last few years, I'm gonna stop you right there because even playing deep Messi is still a goalscorer where Ronaldo was a regular wing-midfielder, goal-scoring was definitely not a case for him.

Also Messi was a CF/False 9 before 2015 and Ronaldo was a WINGER for most of his career.

Now another point for Messi is his highest scoring season, 73 goals in 2011/12 season.

But lets look deeper into it -

Messi's highest scoring league campaign -
(2011/12)
Position: CENTER FORWARD
- 37 GAMES
- 50 GOALS
[1.35 G/MATCH RATIO]

Ronaldo's highest scoring league campaign-
(2014/15)
Position: LEFT WINGER
- 35 GAMES
- 48 GOALS
[1.37 G/MATCH RATIO]

Messi's highest scoring UCL campaign -

- 11 GAMES
- 14 GOALS
[1.27 G/MATCH RATIO]

Ronaldo's highest scoring UCL campaign -

- 11 GAMES
- 17 GOALS
[1.54 G/MATCH RATIO]

Another point for Messi is that he won more golden boots than Ronaldo.
But there are more into it than just that.

The Champions League top scorer holds equal if not more esteem than an European top scorer. Ronaldo won more UCL topscorer and IFFHS top scorer awards.

Ronaldo also won the IFFHS decade top scorer award (2011-2020) while playing 18 less matches than Messi.

Ronaldo scored the most goals in last 10 years playing less matches than Messi.

Messi is the all time top scorer in-
Laliga
Copa Del Rey
Spanish Supercup

Ronaldo is the all time top scorer in-
UEFA Champions League
Europe's Top 5 Leagues
FIFA Club Worldcup
UEFA EURO
UEFA Nations League
EURO Qualifiers

Ronaldo is also much better goal-scorer in INTERNATIONAL stage too.
: More goals overall
: More competitive goals
: More World-Cup goals
: More goals in copa/euro
: More goals against FIFA Top 10,20,30,40 teams.

: More game-winning goals
: More Free-Kick goals
[RONALDO HAVE BETTER RATIO IN EVERY AREA]

: More friendly match goals
: More penalties

Now let's see who contributes more to the team's success:

League titles won as team's top scorer:
Messi: 6 (La Liga)
Ronaldo: 7 (3 EPL, 2 La Liga, 2 Serie A)

UCL titles won as team's top scorer:
Messi: 3 (Barcelona)
Ronaldo: 5 (4 for Madrid, 1 for United)

INTERNATIONAL titles won as team's top scorer -

Messi: 0
Ronaldo: 2
(UEFA EURO, UEFA Nations League)

Goalscoring peaks -

Messi (2009/10 - 2012/13)
Position: CF
- 1.06 g/match in all competitions.
- 0.91 g/match in UCL.

Ronaldo (2011/12 - 2014/15)
Position: LW
- 1.07 g/match in all competitions
- 1.08 g/match in UCL

I put UCL ratio to show that a major part of Ronaldo's goals came on the big stage.

We should also talk about Ronaldo's unmatched goal scoring consistency.

Only player to score atleast 60 goals in 4 consecutive years.
Only player to score 50+ goals for club in 6 consecutive seasons.

Only player to score 50+ goals for club and country in 8 consequtive seasons.
Only player to score 30+ league goals ins 6 consecutive seasons.
Only player to score 60+ goals in 4 consequtive calender years.

Only player to finish as UCL topscorer 5 and 6 times in a row.
Only player to score atleast 10 ucl goals in 7 consecutive seasons.
Only player to score atleast 15 ucl goals in 3 different seasons.

Most UCL goals in a season -
Ronaldo: 17 (2013/14)
Ronaldo: 16 (2015/16)
Ronaldo: 15 (2017/18)
Lewandowski: 15 (2019/20)
Messi: 14 (2011/12)

Most Champions League goals a single calendar year-

Ronaldo: 19 (2017)
Ronaldo: 16 (2015)
Ronaldo: 15 (2013)
Ronaldo: 13 (2012,2014)
Messi: 13 (2013,2016)

Many people also bring that Messi has more goals against epl top 6. But these type of stats could be misleading.

Hattricks against top 4 Laliga teams-

Ronaldo: 9 (87 matches)
Messi: 8 (130+ matches)

Goals Against Top 3 Laliga teams since Ronaldo joined Juventus -
Ronaldo: 5
Messi: 4

Ronaldo left Real Madrid 3 years ago.

List of players to finish a calendar year with 1/more goal ratio per game in the 21st century:

Ronaldo: 4 times (2011,2013,2014,2015)
Messi: 1 time (2012)
Kane: 1 time (2017)
Lewandowski: 1 time (2020)

UCL KO STAGE -
: 67 GOALS
: 61 GOALS+ASSISTS
: 49 GOALS

- Ronaldo have more than double the goals of what Messi has in CL quarter finals, semi finals and finals.

Since many people bring OUTSIDE THE BOX goals,
LONG-DISTANCE goals (25+ meters) last 10 years-
Ronaldo: 30
Messi: 21

* This leaves out Ronaldo's Man UTD days.