Comparing Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi’s El Clasico Stats

• El Clasico has missed Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi
• The two icons made the Real Madrid vs Barcelona fixture a must-watch, but they are long gone
• Sports Brief looks at how El Clasico's stats of the two veterans compare

The curtain will be raised on the next chapter of El Clasico this weekend when Barcelona welcome Real Madrid into Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Saturday evening.

Both sides have started the season well and are separated by just one point, meaning whoever wins will not only take the bragging rights but also the lead in the table if other results go their way.

El Clasico remains one of the biggest fixtures in the football calendar, but in recent seasons, it has lost its allure for several reasons, one of which is the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

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Ronaldo and Messi were a compelling subplot in El Clasico, but since they left, the encounter has been less of a spectacle. Ronaldo left Real Madrid in 2018, while Messi said goodbye to Barcelona in 2021.

The two football icons had their moments in El Clasico. From memorable celebrations to iconic goals, they made football fans all over the world tune in. But how do their stats in the fixture compare? Sports Brief takes a deep dive.

Ronaldo and Messi's goals

Messi has scored 721 club goals, while the Al-Nassr striker has 729. These two stars have won many trophies in their careers, but one trophy separates them: the World Cup trophy. Messi led Argentina to glory in the 2022 World Cup.

Both players have each scored over 100 goals for their countries. Ronaldo is the all-time scorer in international football with 127 goals, per UEFA.

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Ronaldo and Messi El Clasico stats

This weekend, there will be no Messi or Ronaldo in El Clasico, but they will always be a talking point before, during and after the encounter.

The two veterans gave us incredible moments whenever they played in El Clasico. They scored important goals for their clubs, endearing themselves to fans. So, how do their stats in El Clasico compare?

Messi has faced Madrid 47 times and scored 26 goals, the most in El Clasico, while Ronaldo has faced the Blaugrana 30 times in El Clasico and scored 18 goals. Here's a summary of their El Clasico stats courtesy of Transfermarkt.

It is fair to say Messi had a great time when his Barcelona side faced Real Madrid. The GOAT debate between these two was at its peak during El Clasico.

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The pair faced each other for the first time in April 2008 when Ronaldo was still playing for Manchester United.

Why El Clasico has lost its allure

Sports Brief earlier analyzed why El Clasico had lost some of its appeal in the last few seasons.

The absence of Messi and Ronaldo is a major reason why El Clasico has experienced a decline because it was rare for two iconic players playing for bitter rivals to go face to face.

The fixture also lacks some compelling characters like years ago when you had characters like Jose Mourinho, Pep Guardiola, Sergio Ramos and Victor Valdes.