Editor’s observe: This article has been up to date because it was first printed on April 24, 2020
It’s been some time – 947 days, to be actual – however Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are all set to go head to head once more as Barcelona host Juventus of their nearer Champions League Group G on Tuesday.
The long-awaited assembly may have returned in October, however Ronaldo missed that match in Turin after contracting COVID-19 whereas on a global mission. Messi scored the second purpose in a 2-0 win for Barca with a late penalty.
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As such, this might be the first time Messi and Ronaldo have met since the latter left La Liga rivals Real Madrid to be a part of Juve in 2018.
Ronaldo has represented three totally different golf equipment throughout their lengthy rivalry, whereas Messi has solely ever performed for Barca. That appeared to change final summer season when he auctioned off the soccer world taking part in briefly and really publicly with the thought of ending his 20 years of affiliation with the Catalan giants.
There have been additionally doubts over Messi’s participation towards Juve this week, having been rested for Barca’s earlier two Champions League video games, however coach Ronald Koeman has since confirmed that the Argentina captain will most definitely be in. of his group Tuesday night. Who is aware of how lengthy he’ll have the option to say that?
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo met for the first time in the 2008 Champions League semi-final between Barcelona and Manchester United. .
Face-to-face
The couple have entangled a complete of 35 instances for membership and nation. Indeed, for the length of Ronaldo’s senior profession, the one participant he has confronted the most is Andres Iniesta (36 instances). On the different hand, Messi has confronted three different opponents on a number of events throughout his profession: Sergio Ramos, Diego Godin and Karim Benzema.
The very first assembly between the two occurred on April 23, 2008, when a 20-year-old Messi got here face to face with a 23-year-old Ronaldo as Barcelona and Manchester United performed a goalless attract the first leg of the Champions League. semi-finals – United would attain the ultimate, the place they beat Chelsea on penalties. The final assembly between Messi and Ronaldo occurred in La Liga on May 6, 2018, throughout the Clasico between Barca and Real which led to a 2-2 draw.
The Barca celebrity is at the high when it comes to the head-to-head file between him and Ronaldo, with 16 wins towards 10 of his former nemesis. There have been 9 attracts. Messi additionally has extra targets from a ways, having scored 22 towards 19 for Ronaldo.
Lionel Messi is main the method each when it comes to video games received and targets scored in his encounters with Cristiano Ronaldo. ESPN Statistics and Information
Ahead of Tuesday’s sport at Camp Nou, Messi and Ronaldo by no means confronted one another in the Champions League group stage, regardless of having performed 5 instances in the knockout stage – each legs of the semi-finals. 2007-08 and 2010-11 finals, and the 2009 finals in Rome.
Ronaldo could also be the Champions League’s all-time high scorer with 132 targets, however the Portugal captain has by no means scored in the competitors whereas sharing the pitch with Messi, who scored three factors in the competitors. European clashes towards groups that includes Ronaldo.
Cristiano Ronaldo has by no means scored in the Champions League taking part in towards Lionel Messi. ESPN Statistics and Information
The most memorable clashes
Of the 35 events that Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have confronted one another, many have produced some actually memorable encounters. Here are six of the finest.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkR_CBgZ8YA
The 2009 ultimate in Rome was billed as a gladiatorial conflict between the two finest gamers in the world, and this time Messi emerged victorious. Barca managed to hold United at arm’s size in Rome to win 2-0 – Messi scoring a uncommon header for his aspect’s second purpose – and secured his first-ever league, Cup and European Cup treble .
The sport that was seen as a testing floor for Messi and Ronaldo (each of whom have been Ballon d’Or winners at this level) deviated from the storyline as Camp Nou witnessed historic humiliation from Real and his coach, Jose Mourinho. Messi did not rating, however he scored two targets as he performed a pivotal function at Barca breaking down his enemies, who began the sport forward of La Liga and undefeated in seven matches. The excessive rating was immortalized by Gerard Pique’s 5 fingers “Little Hand” (“Little Hand”) greet the watching world.
🏆💫 👑 Nine years in the past as we speak, we received our 18th Copa del Rey!
⏳ On April 20, 2011 we missed the 0-1 winner towards @FC Barcelona in a spectacular extra time win at Mestalla! #RMHistory | #RMFansEnCasa pic.twitter.com/ROTmQPygFZ– Real Madrid CF 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) April 20, 2020
Ronaldo lastly triumphed over Barca as an actual participant on the fifth time. The Madrid striker was the lone scorer as his imposing 103rd-minute scoring header noticed the Whites snatch the Copa del Rey from underneath Barca’s noses. However, that ultimate at the Mestalla got here amid an intense run of 4 Clasicos in three weeks, which resulted in Barca reaching the Champions League ultimate at the expense of their fierce rivals.
Ronaldo prevailed once more when the former opponents met at Camp Nou in the direction of the finish of the 2011-12 league marketing campaign. Barca have given up on their hopes of defending the La Liga title as the winner over Ronaldo The Whites seven factors clear at the high of the desk with 4 video games to go. Ronaldo’s purpose additionally noticed Real to break the Spanish League scoring file with the season’s No.109 purpose, and so they received the title shortly thereafter.
Ronaldo’s long-awaited restoration got here in the later phases of the 2012-13 Copa del Rey when Real placed on a star-studded efficiency to ship Barcelona to race. Following the finish of the 1-1 first leg at the Bernabeu, the Portuguese striker scored twice and virtually single-handedly secured a 3-1 victory at Camp Nou on the return journey to seal Real’s place in the ultimate. At the finish of the sport, Mourinho cheekily silenced native followers together with his finger pressed to his lips and Ronaldo left the pitch after scoring in every of his final six appearances on Barca’s hallowed floor.
Messi hit the headlines once more after a 92nd-minute winner from the Argentinian talisman claimed a really late Bernabeu victory and saved Barca’s title aspirations alive. Having already scored in the first half, Messi saved his cool to rating at residence an added time winner in a hostile ambiance after which have a good time by ostensibly reminding supporters of his identify. In the total nine-year interval that Messi and Ronaldo have been collectively in Spain, there has by no means been a Classic purpose. Ticket workplace, assure.
