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Fans Are Comparing Cristiano Ronaldo And Lionel Messi's Achievements In The Champions League At Age 33

Fans Are Comparing Cristiano Ronaldo And Lionel Messi's Achievements In The Champions League At Age 33

It's got people talking on social media.

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare

Fans are comparing the achievements of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the Champions League at the age of 33 - and it's caused some serious debate on social media.

It has been a week to forget for both these all-time greats.

On Tuesday night, Serie A champions Juventus suffered an early exit from the competition after FC Porto scored two away goals in Turin, while Barcelona were knocked out at the last-16 stage following an aggregate defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.

Image: PA
Image: PA

A below-par Ronaldo drew a blank in both legs against FC Porto and Messi couldn't inspire a comeback, despite a long-range screamer in the opening 45 minutes - meaning for the first time in 16 years, football's two titans have failed to reach the quarter-finals of Europe's elite competition.

Ronaldo and Messi's exit from the competition this week has brought plenty of debate amongst fans. Can they still do it on the grandest of stages? Will we ever see them lift the Champions League again? There are so many questions out there.

But perhaps the biggest argument people are having on social media is a comparison of what Cristiano Ronaldo was doing - or more specifically achieving - when he was Lionel Messi's age.

So what was the outcome?

At the age of 33, Cristiano Ronaldo scored three goals over two legs against Paris Saint-Germain and netted three times over two legs against Juventus, where he bagged one of the greatest Champions League goals of all time. Remember that overhead-kick?

Of course, he was surrounded by a flurry of creative midfielders in that season as the likes of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric often fed him chances but in that year, he lifted the fifth Champions League title of his career.


At the age of 33, meanwhile, Lionel Messi has just one goal from open play in the Champions League. He was also on the receiving end of a 3-0 drubbing of Juventus at the Camp Nou and more recently, a 4-1 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain at home.

In fact, he has not won the Champions League with his beloved Barca for over half a decade.

Some may suggest that Messi has been let down by his teammates in recent years but the debate rages on.

Thoughts on the Ronaldo/Messi debate at 33?

Let us know in the comments.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Football, Barcelona, Lionel Messi, Juventus, Champions League, Cristiano Ronaldo