FIFA 23: Comparing Lionel Messi’s and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Ratings Over the Years

• Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have often been the top-rated players in the popular video game FIFA
• The latest edition of the game, FIFA 23, was released on September 30th, with Messi still on top despite recording a two-point drop
• The last time Ronaldo was ahead of Messi was in FIFA 2018

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are currently on a decline from their impressive selves after dominating world football for over a decade.

The two still have the ability to conjure up magical things, but one can't help but notice that they are slowly fading away. The latest edition of the popular video game FIFA 23 underlines this fact.

Messi has dropped from a rating of 93 to 91, while Ronaldo is basically hanging by a thread in the 90 category.

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No rivalry in any sport has come close to what these two have served in football. But how do their ratings on FIFA compare over the years?

The last time the two GOATs were given the same rating was in FIFA 2019 of 94. It was the year when Ronaldo had just moved to Juventus from Real Madrid. It was also the year that neither of them had won the Ballon d'Or for the first time in over 9 years after Luka Modric bagged the award.

After the 2019 edition, Messi has led in subsequent editions to date. But before 2019, Ronaldo was ahead of his rival in FIFA 2018 and FIFA 2017. These were the same years when Ronaldo was a part of the Real Madrid squad that won three consecutive Champions League titles.

Ronaldo's shot power has remained superior to Messi's over the years, with the Portuguese ability to strike balls setting him apart. Messi's strengths lie in his pass accuracy and dribbling skills.

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The next edition would probably see one of them drop out of the 90 bracket. An era is surely coming to an end. Enjoy it while it lasts.

Why Lionel Messi's Argentina is the team to beat In Qatar as Ronaldo becomes a liability

Sports Brief had earlier reported that after Argentina's victory over Jamaica in their last warm-up game ahead of the FIFA World Cup, Lionel Messi took to his Instagram account and wrote,

"We bid farewell to the United States with another triumph and with much hope."

Messi's belief, and that of any Argentina fan, will be at an all-time high heading to Qatar. The Lionel Scaloni-coached side are currently on a 35-match unbeaten streak.

The same, however, can't be said of his arch-nemesis, Cristiano Ronaldo. For the first time in his career, Ronaldo is facing questions about his suitability to lead the Portuguese side. Portugal is stuck with talent, but there are fears that their captain is doing more harm than good.