This year, two of the greatest soccer players ever announced their retirement from international soccer, as Lionel Messiand Cristiano Ronaldo both said goodbye to the global game and left the world debating who the greatest of all time is.
Ronaldo announced on Thursday, Nov. 5 that he's stepping aside after 23 years with the Portugal national team, in part after a fallout with Portugal coach Jorge Jesus
."To the Portuguese people, the day has come to hand back the number seven shirt of the national team that belongs to us all. I never felt it was exclusively mine," Ronaldo said on social media.
Messi announced his retirement from the Argentina national squad in July after La Albiceleste lost to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. He played
his final match for Argentina on Oct. 7 in a 3-0 friendly win over Benin, scoring a goal and assisting on two others.
The 41-year-old Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d'Or winner, last played for Portugal on Sept. 24, in a 1-0 Nations League win over Wales.
Here is a comparison of accomplishments and goals between Messi and Ronaldo:
Messi and Ronaldo by the numbers
Messi: 208 appearances for Argentina; 126 goals, 67 assists.
- Olympic Gold Medal (2008)
- FIFA World Cup (2022)
- Copa América (2021, 2024)
- Ballon d'Or: (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023)
Ronaldo: 234 appearances for Portugal; 146 goals, 37 assists.
- UEFA European Championship (2016)
- Nations League (2019, 2025)
- Ballon d'Or (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Lionel Messi by the numbers
