Lionel Messi Doesn’t Want to Leave Cristiano Ronaldo Alone in the 1,000-Goal Club
Cristiano Ronaldo is getting closer to 1,000 career goals, but Lionel Messi is also chasing the historic milestone. Their rivalry could write another chapter before the end of their careers.
The rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo could be heading toward one of its final chapters, this time with both stars chasing a milestone that once seemed almost impossible: becoming two of the biggest names of the modern era to reach 1,000 career goals.
Cristiano Ronaldo currently has the advantage in the race. The Portuguese forward is approaching 978 goals for club and country, while Lionel Messi is around 927 after adding to his tally with Inter Miami. Other figures provided place Messi closer to 930 goals, meaning the gap remains significant, but far from insurmountable.
CR7 Has the Advantage, but Messi Still Has Time
The numbers clearly favor Cristiano Ronaldo. With 978 goals, the Portuguese star needs just 22 more goals to reach the four-digit milestone. At 41, he continues to score for Al-Nassr and maintain an offensive output that seemed increasingly difficult to sustain after so many seasons at the highest level.
His situation could also allow him to extend his career, as his current contract expires in the summer of 2027, although there has already been speculation about a possible continuation.
Messi, meanwhile, faces a bigger comeback. With around 927 goals, he would need approximately 73 more to reach 1,000. Still, several factors keep the possibility alive.
The Argentine is under contract with Inter Miami through 2028 and, despite being 39, remains a major force in MLS.
The Opinion That Is Reigniting the Rivalry
For Shaka Hislop, former goalkeeper and former MLS player, there is a particular reason to believe Messi will not let Ronaldo have that historic moment all to himself.
Speaking exclusively to GOAL, Hislop highlighted the shared legacy the two stars have built across a generation. In his view, the scale of their careers makes it only fitting to imagine both players surpassing the 1,000-goal mark.
Hislop believes that if both players finish with more than 1,000 goals, it would be a fitting outcome for everything they have represented in football. And while there is no evidence that Messi is personally chasing Ronaldo in this statistic, his continued presence at Inter Miami makes the milestone a realistic possibility.
Giuseppe Rossi, a former MLS player and Ronaldo's former teammate at Manchester United, also previously questioned how much Messi actually cares about the number. Still, he was emphatic in saying that the Argentine can reach 1,000 goals within the next few years.
Messi vs. Ronaldo: The Final Duel Between the Two GOATs?
Messi and Ronaldo are no longer competing directly on the same continent, nor do they face each other regularly as they did during their years in Spain. One continues his career in the United States with Inter Miami, while the other remains a prolific scorer in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr.
Even so, the comparison remains intact. Ronaldo needs 22 goals to reach 1,000, while Messi needs around 73, based on the figures provided. The Portuguese star has a considerable lead, but the Argentine is under contract through 2028 and continues to score at an age when most players would already be considering retirement.
