Lionel Messi’s fans argue about the goal that would reduce gap between Cristiano and PSG star.
Using statistics, supporters of Lionel Messi argue that the legendary Argentinean forward has only scored one goal fewer in his club career than Cristiano Ronaldo.
As he scored the 500th league goal of his club career earlier this month, Cristiano Ronaldo garnered media attention. It was a game for Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia.
Nobody comes close to Cristiano Ronaldo’s current total of 824 goals in 1,149 games in terms of overall career goals. With 797 goals overall, Lionel Messi is third all-time, but when it comes to professional club goals, his Portuguese opponent once again surpasses him.
Ronaldo has scored 706 goals in his club career while playing for Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and Al Nassr. Many believe that Messi’s goal total should be 705 rather than 699, even though he has scored 699 goals for Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.
That’s because Ronaldo’s current league, the Saudi Arabian Pro League, is ranked as the 66th-best league in the world by TeamForm.
Comparatively, the Spanish third division, where Messi started his career with Barcelona B and made 22 games and six goals, is ranked 57th.
The key is that Messi’s six goals for Barcelona B are excluded from Ronaldo’s five goals for Al Nassr when comparing the two legends’ scoring totals.
Technically, Messi can count those six goals as part of his professional career.
A month before making his third-tier debut for Barca’s B squad, he signed his first professional deal with the club in February 2004.
According to TeamForm, the creation of ranking was by “using a special and complex algorithm,” and they were “constantly changed based on the performance in football matches.”
The company globally covers more than 700 leagues.
The horde of Messi’s supporters may have a point then. The record book for career club goals should read “Ronaldo 706, Messi 705”.
