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The rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo during their time in La Liga is arguably one of the greatest sporting rivalries of all time.
Both players pushed each other to unprecedented heights, constantly setting new records and redefining what it means to be a football superstar.
From 2009 to 2018, Messi and Ronaldo engaged in intense El Clásico battles, facing off at least twice annually in the highly anticipated match.
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While the debate over who was truly better often rages on, there are undeniable statistical indicators that demonstrate Messi's dominance during their nine-year head-to-head battle.
Pichichi Trophy: Messi 5 - Ronaldo 3
One of the most obvious metrics to compare Messi and Ronaldo is their goal-scoring records.
The Pichichi Trophy is awarded by the sports newspaper Marca to the top goalscorer of each La Liga season.
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During their time in La Liga, both players consistently found the net with remarkable frequency. However, when analysing their head-to-head statistics, Messi emerges as the clear winner.
While Ronaldo's goal-scoring exploits were nothing short of extraordinary, Messi's ability to consistently outscore his rival was a testament to his unmatched finishing ability. Over the course of their nine-year rivalry in the league, Messi won more Pichichi trophies than Ronaldo.
European Golden Shoe: Messi 5 - Ronaldo 3
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The European Golden Boot is awarded annually to the player who scores the most goals in the top-tier leagues of European countries.
Messi further showed his superiority by outsourcing everyone in Europe’s top-five leagues five times compared to Ronaldo’s three during their nine-year rivalry in La Liga.
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In one of those years (2012), Messi surpassed Gerd Müller's record of most goals scored in a calendar year, scoring 91 times in all competitions for Barcelona and Argentina.
Team Trophies: Messi 25 - Ronaldo 15
Ultimately, the true measure of a player's greatness is often reflected in the trophies they win. In the context of their La Liga rivalry, Messi's dominance is evident in the number of titles he secured with Barcelona.
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During their nine-year head-to-head battle, Messi led Barcelona to more La Liga titles (6) than Ronaldo for Real Madrid (2). His consistent performances and goal-scoring contributions were instrumental in helping Barcelona establish themselves as the dominant force in Spanish football during that period.
While Ronaldo won more UEFA Champions League titles with Real Madrid (5) during that nine-year rivalry compared to Messi with Barcelona (2), Messi's trophy cabinet was significantly fuller across all competitions, which further emphasises his superiority during their rivalry.
La Liga Best Player Award: Messi 7- Ronaldo 1
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The La Liga Best Player award is presented every season to the best players in the Spanish first division, and it was established in the 2008–09 season, a season before Ronaldo’s arrival.
Messi won this award nine times, with seven of them coming during his nine-year La Liga rivalry with Ronaldo. In comparison, Ronaldo won this award just once (2013-24) during his stay in the league.
Ballon d’Or: Messi 5 - Ronaldo 4
The Ballon d'Or is a prestigious award that recognises the world's best football player and has been presented annually since 1956.
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Messi and Ronaldo have dominated this award, with Messi claiming it eight times and Ronaldo five across their careers.
However, during their time together in La Liga, Messi slightly outshone Ronaldo in terms of Ballon d'Or wins, securing the award five times compared to Ronaldo's four.
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While the debate over who was better between Messi and Ronaldo will likely continue for years to come, the statistical evidence clearly shows that Messi dominated their head-to-head battle in La Liga.
His superior goal-scoring numbers and trophy haul are undeniable indicators of his dominance during their nine-year rivalry.
Ronaldo was a worthy adversary, but Messi's consistent excellence and unmatched ability to elevate his team to new heights helped him win this battle.
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