Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have aged like high-quality wines, having fun with a few of their greatest highs within the latter halves of their careers – significantly on the worldwide stage for Argentina and Portugal respectively.
However which of the 2 era-defining rivals has the extra spectacular worldwide report after turning 30? We’ve taken a better have a look at their stats.
Ronaldo’s numbers are off the charts. Eighty-four of his all-time report 136 worldwide objectives have been scored after turning 30.
If he by no means made his debut till after his thirtieth birthday, Ronaldo would nonetheless be the eighth in worldwide soccer’s all-time scorers charts.
Solely Romelu Lukaku (88 objectives for Belgium) and Robert Lewandowski (85 objectives for Poland) have scored extra for European nations than post-30 Ronaldo, they usually’ve had their total careers to hit these numbers.
The still-active 40-year-old Actual Madrid icon loved arguably the proudest second of his profession on the age of 31, too, having captained Portugal to the European Championships in 2016.
He was compelled off by damage early within the last in opposition to France however cheered on from the sidelines as his team-mates delivered the trophy with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over the hosts.
Three years later Ronaldo received the second piece of worldwide silverware of his profession – after scoring a hat-trick within the Nations League semi-finals in opposition to Switzerland, he received his fingers on the trophy after Portugal floor out a 1-0 victory over the Netherlands within the last.
Messi is 2 and a half years youthful than Ronaldo and as such hasn’t clocked up fairly as a lot soccer as Ronaldo after turning 30. He’s made 28 fewer worldwide appearances since turning 30 and has scored 30 fewer objectives.
Nevertheless, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has notched extra assists and has been extra prolific when it comes to objective contributions per minute, averaging a objective or help each 82 minutes for Argentina since turning 30 in comparison with each 84 minutes for Ronaldo.
Messi’s achievements after turning 30 go far past simply the spectacular numbers, although. And in an alternate actuality, he may not have loved this superbly rewarding a part of his worldwide profession.
“For me, the nationwide crew is over,” Messi stated after defeat by Chile within the 2016 Copa America last.
“I’ve executed all I can. It hurts to not be a champion.”
It was the fourth main last defeat that Messi had suffered with Argentina, and he was 29 on the time he introduced his retirement from the nationwide crew.
However he quickly went again on that call, which is one thing thousands and thousands of Argentinians shall be eternally grateful for.
The Barcelona legend continued to abdomen heartache in his early 30s, however every part modified on the 2021 Copa America – throughout which he turned 34 – when he captained Argentina to their first piece of main silverware in 28 years.
Messi rolled again the years and was an inspirational determine, named Participant of the Match, at that summer season event. And the next 12 months he repeated the trick at age 35, La Albiceleste’s talisman as they received the large one – the World Cup – in Qatar.
And final summer season they accomplished a historic three-peat, profitable a 3rd successive main trophy by retaining the Copa America. Messi wasn’t fairly as influential for that one, however his management nonetheless proved helpful out in the US.
Right here’s how Messi and Ronaldo’s worldwide data stack up in opposition to each other after turning 30:
Lionel Messi
Video games: 73
Targets: 54
Assists: 22⭐
Penalties scored (taken): 12/15 (80%⭐ )
Free-kicks: 5
Hat-tricks: 4
Minutes per objective: 115
Minutes per non-penalty objective: 148
Minutes per objective or help: 82⭐
Trophies Gained – 4 ⭐ :
– 2 x Copa America (2021, 2024)
– 1 x World Cup (2022)
– 1 x Finalissima (2022)
Cristiano Ronaldo
Video games: 101⭐
Targets: 84⭐
Assists: 15
Penalties scored (taken): 18/25⭐ (72%)
Free-kicks: 5
Hat-tricks: 6⭐
Minutes per objective: 99⭐
Minutes per non-penalty objective: 122⭐
Minutes per objective or help: 84
Trophies Gained – 2:
– 1 x European Championship (2016)
– 1 x UEFA Nations League (2018-19)
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