Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo - season by season comparison of their goal scoring records

3. 2014-15

Now partnered with Luis Suarez and Neymar Jr. in what was real life’s own version of a FIFA Ultimate Team, Leo Messi and Barcelona were unstoppable as they went on to sweep both La Liga and the Champions League to reassert their dominance over Real Madrid. They won La Liga by the narrowest of margins (just two points) and despite the fearsome strike force they’d assembled, they were outscored by the Castillians 118 goals to 110.

This was mainly due to Ronaldo’s red-hot form in front of goal. By 2013-14, the Portuguese winger had gone from a neo-inside-forward to playing even more as a central striker, interchanging positions with Karim Benzema with a rare fluidity to record his best ever goal-scoring tally in a season. This meant that despite Messi bringing his A-game back to the party, Ronaldo edged the Argentine when it came to their personal battle.

Pichichi Award winner – Cristiano Ronaldo (48)

Champions League Golden Boot – Neymar, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo (10)

FIFA Ballon d’Or winner (2015) – Lionel Messi

GOAL TALLY

Lionel Messi: 58 in 57

Cristiano Ronaldo: 61 in 54