Messi vs Ronaldo: Who had the better 2021?

2021 was a very eventful year in football, and in particular, for two of the greatest players in the history of the sport. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi both switched clubs in the summer, and have new challenges. 

In this article, we take a look at their respective performances in 2021 and add another chapter to the eternal Messi vs Ronaldo debate, by seeing whose year was better. 

Messi vs Ronaldo: Who had a better 2021? 

First, let’s make the case for Cristiano Ronaldo. 

Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2021 

Games: 64

Goals: 46

Assists: 6

Penalties scored: 10

The Portugal captain swapped Juventus in favour of Manchester United in a surprise return to Old Trafford. He is now the star player for the Red Devils yet again. With the national team, he surpassed Ali Daei as the highest international goalscorer of all time. 

The only trophy Ronaldo lifted was the Coppa Italia with Juventus, and he ended up finishing sixth in the Ballon d’Or rankings.  

Lionel Messi’s 2021

Games: 61

Goals: 43

Assists: 18

Penalties scored: 6 

Lionel Messi won his seventh Ballon d’Or trophy in 2021. He finished with the Pichichi Trophy in La Liga and won the Copa del Rey with Barcelona as well. He won the Copa America, his first international trophy with Argentina, in the summer. 

But shortly after, he had to leave Barcelona and joined PSG. We haven’t seen the best of the Argentinian yet, as part of the French giants in Ligue 1. 

The Messi vs Ronaldo debate is one that will never cease, even after the players have hung up their boots. But, in terms of 2021, there is very little separating the two teams in terms of metrics on the pitch. However, it is the silverware that seems to be making the big difference.