Lionel Messi has more non-penalty goals than Cristiano Ronaldo, with Messi surpassing Ronaldo in mid-2025 to become the all-time leader, scoring over 760 goals from open play and showcasing superior efficiency with fewer games played in this category, as detailed by OneFootball and Yahoo Sports.
Messi is the top scorer without penalties ✅️⚽️ #leomessi #cristianoronaldo #penalty #penaldo - YouTube.
The "GOAT" (Greatest Of All Time) in football is a subjective debate, but Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are overwhelmingly considered the top contenders, with Messi often edging out due with recent major wins like the 2022 World Cup, though Ronaldo's longevity and dominance in multiple leagues also make a strong case, with many legends and publications naming Messi as #1. Other historical greats like Pelé and Maradona are also part of the conversation.
All-time goals, career statistics and red cards
New Milestone Achieved vs New York Red Bulls
The Argentine legend hit brace against New York Red Bulls in the MLS pushing his non penalty goal tally to 764 , one more than Ronaldo who sits at 763. What's even more astonishing's that Messi achieved this feat in 167 fewer matches than the Portuguese icon.
The debate over who is better, Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, is ongoing, with Messi often favored by stats for overall impact, playmaking, and recent World Cup win, while Ronaldo leads in sheer volume of official goals and Champions League titles, showcasing different elite styles—Messi with unmatched dribbling and vision, Ronaldo with physical dominance and goalscoring prowess. Both are considered among the greatest ever, with Messi holding more Ballon d'Or awards and overall trophies, while Ronaldo boasts more goals and Champions League victories across different leagues.
Cole Palmer held the longest 100% penalty conversion streak in the Premier League(12/12) before missing against Leicester City today 😲 Record Holder🥇....
Messi will score 900th goal in 2026. Can he reach 1,000? Can he pass Ronaldo? Lionel Messi is never far from breaking his next record or hitting his next landmark, and he enters 2026 on the verge of yet another massive milestone in his incredible career: his 900th goal.
15 Best Dribblers in World Soccer—Ranked
After an illustrious 23-year soccer career, Cristiano Ronaldo has cemented his legacy in the annals of the sport, etching his name alongside legendary clubs such as Manchester United and Real Madrid. He has achieved the status of one of the greatest scorers in history, prompting him to refer to himself as the GOAT.
It's unlikely but possible for Lionel Messi to score 1000 career goals, requiring him to maintain a high scoring rate (around 36-37 goals/season) for his remaining years at Inter Miami, potentially until 2028, despite slowing down and focusing more on playmaking; factors like injury and focus shift towards life after football make it a challenging milestone to reach. He needs about 110-116 more goals, and while he's in good form, maintaining it past age 40 is a big ask, with some projections placing him in the 960-980 goal range by retirement.
Cristiano Ronaldo is overcome with emotion after scoring his 900th career goal. The 39-year-old was also the first men's player in history to score 800 goals for club and country, according to the Olympics.
Ronaldo needs 47 to reach 1,000 career goals. With a recent average of around 45 goals a year and a role built for finishing, he is statistically well-placed to cross the mark if he stays on the pitch until 2027.
With over 950 goals for club and country combined, Cristiano Ronaldo is the top goalscorer of all time.
🗣️ "In fact, we contacted Messi at the end of his contract in Paris." "We presented him with an offer of 💲1.5 million euros, but the player rejected it because his family wanted to live in Miami." 🗣️ "It's surprising that a player could decline an offer for the sake of his family." He managed to convince his family, ...
Cristiano Ronaldo after becoming the first player in history to score 800 club goals 🐐🥶
🐐 — 91 goals: Leo Messi alone in 2012 ✅ — 92 goals: Mbappe + Haaland in 2025 Despite their incredible form, Erling Haaland & Kylian Mbappé have combined for only one more goal in 2025 than Lionel Messi scored alone in 2012! 🥶 A reminder of how historic Messi's record breaking year truly was!
Total penalties missed - 32
This statistic shows how many penalties the player has missed in his career.
💔 A true Leader doesn't Give up. #Ronaldo missed a penalty in extra time that could have sent Portugal to the quarter finals. He cried, wiped his tears and remained motivated. He courageously took Portugal's first penalty during penalty shootout and scored just to refuel his teammates with positive energy.
John Terry revealed that his missed penalty in the 2008 Champions League final against Manchester United once made him think about ending it all. 😳 “After the match, we all went back to the hotel and I was on the 25th floor. I looked out the window and thought, 'Why?
He scored 47 penalty kicks from 48 attempts, and is considered one of the greatest ever from the 12-yard spot. Born in Guernsey, Le Tissier opted to represent England, winning eight caps from 1994 to 1997.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Lewandowski are the only players with more than 100 goals for 3 different clubs in the 21st century.