Ronaldo’s Records: Young Stars Surpassing CR7 at Same Age

Lionel Messi’s recent performance in Inter Miami’s Club World Cup victory over Porto, scoring a match-winning free-kick, has prompted renewed comparisons with Cristiano Ronaldo, particularly as both players navigate their careers at ages 37 and 38. Even as Messi secured the Supporters’ Shield in his first full MLS season with 21 goals and 10 assists in 20 appearances, Ronaldo experienced a comparatively challenging year as a 37-year-old.

Data from 2024 reveals a significant difference in their statistics at age 37. Messi played 43 games, while Ronaldo notched 17 goals in 45 appearances for club and country. At age 17, Ronaldo already demonstrated a higher goal-scoring rate, with 5 goals and 4 assists in 19 appearances, averaging a goal every 37 minutes. Messi, at the same age, had 1 goal and no assists in 9 appearances, with a goal every 234 minutes.

The contrast in performance extends to efficiency metrics. Ronaldo, at 17, had a goal contribution every 104 minutes, while Messi’s was 234 minutes. Ronaldo’s goals per game at 17 was 0.26, compared to Messi’s 0.11. The minutes per goal as well favored Ronaldo, at 187.2 minutes versus Messi’s 234 minutes. Both players had zero hat-tricks at that age.

Born just over two years apart – Ronaldo on February 5, 1985, and Messi on June 24, 1987 – their trajectories have been consistently measured against each other. Ronaldo was 39 years old in 2024, while Messi turned 38 in February 2025. Messi’s recent form, including his performance against Porto, suggests he continues to deliver pivotal moments, despite entering the later stages of his career. However, Ronaldo’s 37th year, marked by a perceived dip in form, stands in stark contrast to his later resurgence in Saudi Arabia, a detail not fully captured in the available data.

The statistics from their 37th years highlight a divergence in performance. While Messi was instrumental in Inter Miami’s success, Ronaldo’s year was described as arguably the worst of his professional career. The data does not currently reflect Ronaldo’s performance beyond that period, leaving a gap in the comparative analysis.