#4 Personal glory and record-breaking
No doubt, Lionel Messi has a better tally of silverware on the collective stage. But, in the race for individual achievements, the Argentinian falls a mile behind Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Portuguese giant's endless desire for success has seen him grab a huge collection of individual accolades. Both Messi and Ronaldo have a mammoth 287 singular awards between them. The Real Madrid star accounts for the better number, having won 157 of the total tally.
Of course, Messi is a five-time Ballon d'Or winner, but stay tuned. Cristiano Ronaldo has almost caught up with him and is on course to equal him this year. Call him selfish if you might, but that is exactly the virtue that has made Cristiano Ronaldo immortal in the beautiful game's enchanting history.
Another point deserves a worthy mention. Over the years, Ronaldo has proven his supremacy at breaking records, with 140 under his belt. Messi, on the other hand, has accumulated just 109 until now. Isn't that awe-inspiring enough?