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Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are widely considered as two of the greatest players in history. The duo has been at the top of the game for almost two decades, breaking records and scaling incredible milestones for club and country.
The two legendary players have different approaches to the game. Cristiano Ronaldo is more of a direct, sharp and clinical finisher. Lionel Messi, meanwhile, is more of a technical and intelligent player who also thrives on his ability to create.
However, despite their numerous differences, these iconic players have several aspects in which they are similar with each other. On that note, here's a look at five such similarities between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
#5 Both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are world-class finishers
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have made a name for themselves as two of the greatest finishers in history. The duo has broken almost all major records, continuing to impress in front of goal despite being on the wrong side of 30.
Ronaldo has scored almost 800 goals for club and country. The attacker is the all-time top scorer in men's international football with 111 strikes. He is also the most prolific goalscorer in Champions League history, having scored 136 goals in Europe's elite tournament.
Lionel Messi, meanwhile, also has an impressive record of 752 goals in his career with club and country. Like his Portuguese counterpart, Messi is also the all-time top scorer (79 goals) for his country (Argentina). He also holds the record for the most La Liga goals, with 474.
#4 Both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are big-game players
What puts Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in an exclusive class is their ability to step up on the biggest stage and drive their teams to victory. The duo is known for producing decisive performances, carrying their teams single-handedly and regularly delivering top-notch performances.
Both superstars have scored in the most iconic of tournaments like the FIFA World Cup, Champions League, European Championship and Copa America. They've also scored and set up goals in tournament finals on multiple occasions.
Lionel Messi has a record of 31 goals and 13 assists in 44 appearances in all finals. Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo's record stands at 20 goals and two assists in 31 appearances.
#3 Both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are great leaders
Apart from their ability to make a difference in front of goal, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are also great leaders for club and country. Thanks to their ability to motivate teammates, the two superstars have driven their teams to glory on multiple occasions.
Before joining PSG this summer, Lionel Messi served as Barcelona's captain for three years. Cristiano Ronaldo has yet to be appointed captain at club level. But the Portuguese has been a leader without the armband during spells with Real Madrid, Juventus and now Manchester United.
Meanwhile, the two superstars are the captains of their respective national teams, and they've both led from the front. Ronaldo led Portugal to Euro 2016 success, while Messi pulled off a similar feat this summer, helping Argentina to the Copa America 2021 title.
#2 Set-piece prowess
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are known for their prowess from set-pieces as much as they are from open play. Of course, there have been changes to their set-piece routines over the years, but they remain as deadly as ever from dead balls.
Ronaldo has evolved from the free-kick merchant from his early days at Real Madrid, becoming one of the finest penalty kick takers of all time. The attacker has an impressive record of 139 goals from the spot, which makes up almost 20% of his total career goals.
Messi, meanwhile, has taken his free-kick-hitting prowess to another level, scoring from different angles over the last few years. The Argentine has scored 58 free-kicks thus far in his career.
It is also worth noting that both Messi and Ronaldo have scored over 100 penalty kicks and 50 free-kicks for club and country.
#1 Marketability
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are by far the two most marketable players at the moment. The world's biggest brands have capitalised on their popularity to promote their products and services.
Over the years, the eternal rivals have served as ambassadors for the likes of Adidas, Nike, Puma, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Heineken, Tag Heuer, Gatorade, Mastercard, and many more. They also have massive following on social media, which helps them earn insane revenue every month.
