Fan Creates Thread On Why Cristiano Ronaldo Being A Better Goalscorer Than Lionel Messi 'Is A Myth'

A football fan has created a detailed thread with the aim of proving that Lionel Messi is statistically a better goalscorer than Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Twitter thread, titled "Ronaldo being a better goalscorer than Lionel Messi is a myth", begins with Messi owning both Europe's single-season goal record (73) and record for overall goals in a calendar year (91).

But it goes on to break down further data, such as the fact that in the nine prolific seasons Ronaldo spent in La Liga with Real Madrid, Messi scored more goals for Barcelona over that same nine-season span.

Then there's Messi's better career goal-per-game ratio, the fact he's scored more goals from outside the box, his greater number of goals in finals and the fact that he got to 700 career goals faster than Ronaldo.

The 35-year-old Ronaldo's 760th career goal was hailed as a world record earlier this month. But Messi (who has 719 career goals) is more than two years younger than Ronaldo, so may have time to catch his great rival.

The thread, put together by @MessiScored is packed with info. Though some would argue that statistics can be used in different ways.

For example, Ronaldo's inferior career goals per game ratio (0.76 to Messi's 0.86) is in part because the Portuguese was a genuine winger at Sporting CP and in his early years at Manchester United.

Then there's the fact that, while Messi scored slightly more goals than Ronaldo during the nine seasons the two shared in Spain, Ronaldo's goals came at a better ratio (1.02 to Messi's 0.99).

However what's clear is that Messi is an outstanding goalscorer and finisher - something that gets talked about less, perhaps, because of his incredible all-round skill set.

He is also on course to pass Juventus ace Ronaldo in the all-time goalscoring stakes, if Messi can continue around his current rate. But that depends on Barca's No 10 continuing to play longer than CR7 - and for all we know Ronaldo might keep playing until age 40 and beyond.

The debate around the pair will seemingly never end. But what nobody can dispute is that they are two of the most prolific, record-breaking goalscorers the game has ever seen.

Featured image credit: PA Images

Topics: Football News, Lionel Messi News, Football, Barcelona, Lionel Messi, Twitter, Football twitter, Cristiano Ronaldo

Alex Reid

Alex Reid is a writer at SPORTbible who’s previously strung words together for FourFourTwo, Boxing News, The Guardian and, yes, Cruise International (it’s about big ships, not Tom). Interests range from football and boxing to real sports like WWE and darts. He is not a cage fighter.

@otheralexreid