Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi at FIFA World Cup: The stats and numbers of the two GOATs

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are regarded as the greatest of all time (GOAT) having won a total of 12 Ballon d'Or awards between each other, but only the Argentina superstar has managed to win at the biggest stage representing their nations.

While both Messi and Ronaldo have won it all with their clubs, one of the two GOATs has never won the FIFA World Cup for their country. However, the duo have won the continental cups representing their nations.

Ronaldo, who made his senior Portugal appearance in 2003, helped the Portuguese lift the Euro in 2016 followed by the UEFA Nations League title in 2018-19 season. But in his four attempts at the World Cup, Ronaldo and Portugal have never made it to the final, finishing fourth at best in 2006.

Messi, on the other hand, helped Argentina end nearly a 30-year trophy-less run by winning the Copa Ameria in 2021 followed by the inaugural Finalissima, the CONMEBOL-UEFA Cup of Champions. Messi's Argentina, however, came close to lifting the title in 2014 and finally lifted the World Cup title in his fifth attempt at Qatar 2022.

Ronaldo created history in Portugal's opener in Qatar 2022 as he became the first player to score in five World Cups when he converted from the spot against Ghana. But Portugal were dumped out by Morocco in the quarterfinals.

Ronaldo and Messi are also the leading goal-scorers in the World, having netted over 1500 goals between each other for club and country. Ronaldo leads the list with 819 goals in 1147 appearances, while Messi is the third highest goal-scorer with 793 goals in 1003 appearances.

Now, let's take a look at Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi at FIFA World Cup stats and international record:

Cristiano Ronaldo International Numbers

Caps: 196

Goals: 118

Hat-tricks: 10

Assists: 33

Trophies: Euro 2016, UEFA Nations League 2018-19

Lionel Messi International Numbers

Caps: 172

Goals: 98

Hat-tricks: 8

Assists: 66

Trophies: Copa America 2021, Finalissima 2022, FIFA World Cup 2022

Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi FIFA World Cup numbers

Stat	Ronaldo in World Cup	Messi in World Cup
Appearances	22	26
Goals	8	13
Assists	2	8
Best Finish	Fourth Place (2006)	Winner (2022)

Ronaldo vs Messi: Breakdown in every FIFA World Cup edition

Cristiano Ronaldo

Edition	Appearance	Goals	Assists	World Cup Finish
2006	6	1	0	4th Place
2010	4	1	1	Round of 16
2014	3	1	1	Group Stage
2018	4	4	0	Round of 16
2022	5	1	0	Quarterfinals

Lionel Messi

Edition	Appearance	Goals	Assists	World Cup Finish
2006	3	1	1	Quarterfinals
2010	5	0	1	Quarterfinals
2014	7	4	1	Runners Up
2018	4	1	2	Round of 16
2022	7	7	3	Champion