Debate: Who has had the better international career - Messi or Ronaldo?

Forum 9 years ago

Debate: Who has had the better international career - Messi or Ronaldo?

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo may be taking a break from football in La Liga with Barcelona and Real Madrid, but the planet's two top players renew rivalries at international level on Tuesday as Argentina face Portugal at Old Trafford.
Ronaldo's return to Manchester sees him back at the stage where he shone for five and a half years, while Messi will be reunited with the United fans he upset with match-winning performances in the 2009 and 2011 Champions League finals.
Messi had the last laugh on the pair's previous meeting at international level as the Barcelona forward slotted home a late penalty to secure a 2-1 win for Argentina after Ronaldo had equalised for Portugal in 2011.
But much has happened since then and both men scored on their last international appearance: Messi netted the winner from the spot in a 2-1 victory over Croatia in London on Wednesday and Ronaldo hit the only goal of the game in a European qualifier against Armenia on Friday.
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That strike saw the Portuguese become the all-time top goalscorer in European Championship football with 23 strikes, while Messi missed out narrowly on the greatest prize of all as Argentina lost the World Cup final to Germany earlier in 2014. So which of the two players has had the better international career?