Lionel Messi is eternal. So much so that he may finally be putting an end to the never-ending debate over who is the greatest footballer of all time. After lifting the World Cup in Qatar, many believe that Messi has claimed the throne, clearly surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Goal-Scoring Streak of a Legendary Era

Still, some continue to hold on to one key argument in favor of the Portuguese star: goals. It’s often said that scoring is the most important part of the game, and that’s hard to argue. Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 938 goals in his career an absolutely staggering number that continues to grow. But does that make him the greatest goal scorer in history? The answer is no.

Messi, a Historic ‘Killer’ in World Football

Leo Messi also has a claim to that honor. Not only is he the one who has made his teams and teammates play better as shown by his 386 assists and the player with the most titles in history (48), but he is also a lethal scorer. His most recent proof? Two goals with Inter Miami, bringing his tally to 13 goals and 5 assists in his last 8 matches.

When it comes to non-penalty goals, no one surpasses Messi. He has scored 764 non-penalty goals, one more than Cristiano Ronaldo (763), adding to his already insane career numbers.

The Stats That Tip the Scales Toward Messi

Looking at the numbers, the comparison clearly favors the Argentine:

•  Free-kick goals: Messi 69 - Cristiano 64
•  Goals per game ratio: Messi 0.78 - Cristiano 0.73
•  Minutes per goal: Messi 105’ - Cristiano 112’
•  Shots per goal: Messi needs 5.36 - Cristiano 6.53

All of this, while having played 167 fewer matches than his long-time rival. Numbers that are nearly impossible to match, and that might finally settle the discussion.

Two Legends, One Eternal Legacy

There’s no doubt that both Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are living legends of football. They’ve shattered records and pushed each other to greatness for over a decade. But with these stats on the table, the edge seems to clearly go to the Argentine.

And you who do you think is the greatest of all time: Messi or Cristiano?