Top 10 ranking of the best Real Madrid legends of all time
Football![Top 10 ranking of the best Real Madrid legends of all time](https://images.sportsbrief.com/images/320x180/6c8c4a2203280b12.webp?v=1)
The Euro 2024 draw was done this past weekend, and most teams got to discover their group-stage opponents.
Euro 2024 will see Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo play his record-extending sixth tournament. Meanwhile, Messi will be playing his seventh Copa America in 2024.
These two legends are edging closer to retirement, and next year might as well be the last time we see them play an international tournament.
Messi and Ronaldo have nothing left to prove in this sport. They've each scored hundreds of goals, won plenty of trophies at club level and broken every record imaginable.
Their international careers are incredible. Messi won the Copa America in 2021 and the World Cup in 2022, while Ronaldo won Euro 2016 and the inaugural UEFA Nations League in 2019.
Top 10 ranking of the best Real Madrid legends of all time
FootballThe GOAT debate has always revolved around these two in the last decade, and there's no doubt that they are the two greatest players of all time.
Messi's incredible World Cup win in 2022 seemed to have ended the debate, but Ronaldo fans think the debate is not over.
Ronaldo is the all-time top scorer in international football with 128 goals in 204 games, while Messi has 106 goals in 180 games for Argentina.
Games | Goals | Assists | |
Cristiano Ronaldo | 204 | 128 | 46 |
Lionel Messi | 180 | 106 | 54 |
Messi, Ronaldo, and Iran's Ali Daei are the only players to score at least 100 international goals, per UEFA.
Ronaldo has scored the most goals in Euro history. The Al-Nassr star has scored 14 goals in the European Championships in 25 games. The former Real Madrid and Manchester United star made his Euro debut on June 12 2004, against Greece.
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FootballHe went on to appear in Euro 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2021.
Messi made his Copa America debut in June 2007 and had to wait for over a decade to get his first trophy in the tournament. The Inter Miami star has scored 13 goals in 34 Copa America games, per Transfermarkt.
Games | Goals | |
Cristiano Ronaldo in Euros | 25 | 14 |
Lionel Messi in Copa America | 34 | 13 |
Messi will be playing his 7th Copa America tournament in 2024. It is unclear if these two legends will play in the 2026 World Cup in North America. Ronaldo will be 41 in 2026, while Messi will be 39.
The only major trophy Ronaldo hasn't won is the World Cup. Messi produced a magnificent performance to lead Argentina to their third World Cup crown.
Ronaldo has played in five World Cups and is still waiting to bring home Portugal's first-ever title.
Who is the player with the most top scorer awards in football history?
FootballMessi has scored more World Cup goals than Ronaldo. The Barcelona icon has 13 goals in 26 games, while Ronaldo has eight in 22 appearances.
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Sports Brief earlier reported on the UEFA EURO 2024 draw.
Italy have been drawn in Group B and will face the likes of Spain, Croatia, and Albania. While they will be expected to beat Albania, Croatia and Spain will prove to be far tougher challenges.
Favourites England are in Group C alongside Denmark, Slovenia, and Serbia. Portugal are in Group F alongside Turkey, the Czech Republic and the playoff winner between Georgia, Luxembourg, Greece and Kazakhstan.