Lionel Messi Reaches Century-Plus Goal Mark for Argentina, Closing in on Cristiano Ronaldo‘s International Record
Buenos aires, Argentina – Lionel Messi continued his legendary international career, scoring a brace against Venezuela on Thursday and bringing his total goals for Argentina to 104. The achievement further solidifies Messi’s position as one of the greatest goalscorers in football history and intensifies the ongoing debate with Cristiano Ronaldo regarding international goal-scoring supremacy.
messi’s two goals in the 3-1 victory over Venezuela were pivotal in securing Argentina’s position atop their World Cup qualifying group. The captain’s performance comes as he enjoys a period of rest, having been given leave by coach Lionel Scaloni for the upcoming match against Ecuador.Scaloni stated, “He has made an enormous effort, a big sacrifice. He deserves to rest and be with his family.” This milestone reignites the conversation about Messi’s longevity and potential participation in the 2026 World Cup, a decision Scaloni says will be entirely up to the player.
Currently, Cristiano Ronaldo leads the all-time international goalscoring charts with 128 goals for Portugal. Messi now trails by 24 goals, a meaningful but not insurmountable gap given both players’ continued involvement with their national teams. Ronaldo’s tally was built over 205 appearances, while Messi has reached 182 caps for Argentina.
the rivalry between Messi and Ronaldo extends beyond club football, encompassing a decade-long pursuit of individual and team accolades on the international stage.While Ronaldo has already secured a major international trophy with Portugal – the 2016 European Championship – messi recently lead Argentina to victory in the 2022 FIFA World cup, a triumph that cemented his legacy for many fans.
