The debate over who is the greatest footballer of all time has been raging for decades, with many arguing that the likes of Pele and Ronaldo are the two best ever. It’s an argument that will likely never be settled, but there is one area where Ronaldo has a clear edge over Pele: goals. This means that once the club and the international stages come together and the calculators are whipped out, across their careers, Ronaldo has scored more than Messi and Pele. He has notched 819 times, with Pele sat on 786 and Messi bagging on 793 occasions.
It’s a remarkable feat for Ronaldo, considering that he’s still playing and has a few years left in him yet. He’s scored 627 goals for club sides, with the majority of those coming for Real Madrid and Manchester United. He’s also notched 192 times for Portugal, making him the highest scoring international player of all time. Pele, on the other hand, scored 643 goals for Santos and a further 123 for Brazil, while Messi has scored 617 times for Barcelona and 176 times for Argentina.
The sheer number of goals scored by Ronaldo is impressive, but it’s even more impressive when you consider the quality of some of those goals. He’s scored some truly spectacular goals over the years, with his free-kicks and long-range strikes particularly memorable. He’s also scored some important goals in big games, such as his two goals in the Champions League final against Juventus in 2018. Pele, on the other hand, was known for his skill and dribbling ability rather than his goalscoring prowess, while Messi is renowned for his ability to create chances as well as score them.
It’s not just the number of goals that sets Ronaldo apart from Pele and Messi, but also the way he’s achieved them. Ronaldo has been playing at the top level for over 15 years, while Pele and Messi have both had shorter careers. This means that Ronaldo has had to work harder to maintain his level of performance, while Pele and Messi have been able to rest on their laurels. This is reflected in the fact that Ronaldo has scored more goals in the last five years than both Pele and Messi combined.
Ronaldo’s longevity is also reflected in the fact that he’s scored more goals in the Champions League than any other player. He’s scored a staggering 128 goals in the competition, with Messi in second place on 114 and Pele in third with 77. This shows that Ronaldo has been able to perform consistently at the highest level for a longer period of time than either of his rivals.
It’s clear that Ronaldo is the greatest goalscorer of all time, and it’s a title that he looks set to keep for some time to come. He’s scored more goals than Pele and Messi combined, and he’s done it over a longer period of time. He’s also scored some of the most spectacular goals in the history of the game, and he’s been able to do it at the highest level for a longer period of time than either of his rivals. Ronaldo is the undisputed king of goalscoring, and it’s a title that he looks set to keep for some time to come.