Messi or Ronaldo? Analysing Who Is the Most 'Clutch' Player

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice to help a 10-man Al-Nassr side win the Arab Champions Cup on August 12.

Small wonder Ronaldo is known as 'Mr. Clutch'. The term is often used in sports to mean stepping up when a team needs a player most.

It is one thing to score regularly in the group stages and it is a totally different thing to score in a final to win a game.

Not that the former matters less than the latter, but more weight is often given to the players who show up when the pressure is at its highest.

Ronaldo and his arch-rival, Lionel Messi, have dominated football headlines over the years, with fans of the two sets of players arguing on every available metric.

Why Ronaldo is 'Mr. Clutch'

Ronaldo has, time and again, carried the weight of his team on his shoulders. The biggest example that comes to mind was when he scored a hat-trick for Juventus against Atletico Madrid in the second leg of a round of 16 Champions League clash in 2019.

Diego Simeone's side had scored two goals in the first leg and taunted Juventus after the game. Ronaldo ended up silencing them at the Allianz Stadium.

Ronaldo's love story with the UCL also saw him record a second-leg hat-trick for Real Madrid against Wolfsburg in the 2016 quarter-finals and two extra-time goals against Bayern Munich in 2017.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Reaction After Al Nassr Fans Chant His Name Goes Viral

Football

Being 'clutch' also means turning up against your biggest rivals and as far as Real Madrid's rivals go, none are bigger than Barcelona. In 2011, Ronaldo was yet to win a trophy two years after joining Los Blancos, let alone winning a game against La Blaugrana.

The former Manchester United star then scored a 103rd-minute header for the Spanish giants to win his first of many trophies to follow in the capital city.

Ronaldo's performances for Portugal

Being the best player Portugal has ever produced, Ronaldo has always shown up for his national team. In 2014, they were on the verge of missing out on the 2014 World Cup while facing Sweden. Ronaldo stepped up with two quick goals in the 77th and 79th minutes to knock out Zlatan Ibrahimovic's side and seal their place in Brazil.

Four years later, in Russia, he singlehandedly earned a point for the Selecao in their opening game against Spain by scoring a hat-trick that culminated with a stunning free kick two minutes from time.

Is Lionel Messi more 'clutch'?

The Argentine only needed 35 minutes into his Inter Miami life to provide a 'clutch' moment. He stepped up in stoppage time against Cruz Azul on his debut and Messi bent in a free kick to win the game for his new side, per Sports Brief.

The Argentine has conjured up a couple of 'ice in his veins' moments throughout his career, perhaps the greatest being the goal he scored in extra time at the Santiago Bernabeu to win El Clasico for Barcelona in 2017.

The two sides had played out to a classic two-all draw, but Messi wasn't done. The game is equally remembered for his celebration, where he took off his shirt and showed it to the Real Madrid faithful.

Two years prior, he had completely embarrassed Jerome Boateng during a Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich. The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner scored two goals in the 77th and 80th minutes as Luis Enrique's side went all the way to win the trophy.

Messi's performances for Argentina

For his national side, Messi once scored a hat-trick against Ecuador in 2018 to ensure they qualified for the World Cup. La Albiceleste were on the verge of missing out and needed maximum points - and the veteran delivered, as captured by GOAL.

His biggest undoing in the 'clutch' debate has been his failure to perform in multiple Copa America finals and preventing Barcelona from being eliminated from the Champions League in embarrassing fashion by AS Roma, Bayern Munich, and Liverpool.

At past 36 years of age, both superstars continue to grip the world's attention and until the referee blows the final whistle, defenders ought to be wary of both of them.

One will never know when Ronaldo will pop up with a towering header or where Messi will place his free kick late into stoppage time.

Comparing Messi, Ronaldo's world records

Throughout their illustrious careers over two decades, Messi and Ronaldo set many milestones through Guinness World Records, a testament to their extraordinary achievements.

These records stand as a validation of the two veterans' unparalleled excellence on the field of play and continue to serve as a reminder of their enduring legacy in the football world.

Sports Brief also presented a captivating comparison between the two football legends, examining who boasts a greater number of records recognised by Guinness World Records.