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Lionel Messi Vs Cristiano Ronaldo Meetings So Far: Iconic Football Duo Set To Meet In 2024

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will renew their rivalry when the duo go head-to-head in Saudi Arabia next year. Here are the duo's meetings so far in football

The Messi-Ronaldo rivalry has been among the greatest ever.
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Football's iconic duo, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, are set to meet in Saudi Arabia, probably for 'one last time'. Inter Miami on Monday, confirmed that it will take part in the Riyadh Season Cup — something that was announced by Saudi officials on November 21. Inter Miami said the reports at that time were inaccurate. (More Football News)

Inter Miami will play Al-Hilal on January 29 and Al Nassr — Ronaldo's team — on February 1. Those two clubs lead the Saudi Pro League and Ronaldo is that league's leading scorer.

Formerly of FC Barcelona and Manchester United and later Real Madrid, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have face each other 35 times between matches for club and country. In those meetings, Messi's teams have won 16 whereas Ronaldo's won 10 and the sides settling for a draw on the other nine occasions. Messi has 21 goals and 12 assists in those matches; Ronaldo has 20 goals and one assist.

Lionel Messi, who won the FIFA World Cup 2022 with Argentina, was recently awarded the Ballon D'Or, his eight overall. Just like their predecessors - Pele, Diego Maradona, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho - Messi and his Portuguese counterpart have been two of the greatest players of all-time for the past decade or so in world football.

Back in 2019, the two shared the same stage at the UEFA Men's Player Of The Year. Back then, the Portuguese start was plying his trade with Italy's Juventus whereas Messi was still at Barcelona.

Asked if CR7 missed the rivalry with Messi since leaving Real Madrid for Juventus, Ronaldo said: "I was curious because we shared this stage for 15 years, me and him.

"I don't know if that has ever happened in football, the same two guys on the stage at the same time, so it's not easy.

"Of course we have a good relationship, we have not had dinner together yet but I hope in the future."

Ahead of their iconic clash in Saudi Arabia, here are the meetings of the duo in football history -

No.DateCompetitionHomeScoreAwayGoals
123-Apr-08Champions LeagueBarcelona0–0Manchester United 
229-Apr-08Champions LeagueManchester United1–0Barcelona 
327-May-09Champions LeagueBarcelona2–0Manchester UnitedMessi (70')
429-Nov-09Spanish Spanish La LigaBarcelona1–0Real Madrid 
510-Apr-10Spanish La LigaReal Madrid0–2BarcelonaMessi (33')
629-Nov-10Spanish La LigaBarcelona5–0Real Madrid 
709-Feb-11International friendlyArgentina2–1PortugalRonaldo (21'); Messi ( 90' p)
816-Apr-11Spanish La LigaReal Madrid1–1BarcelonaMessi ( 51' p); Ronaldo ( 81' p)
920-Apr-11Copa del ReyReal Madrid1–0 (a.e.t.)BarcelonaRonaldo (103')
1027-Apr-11Champions LeagueReal Madrid0–2BarcelonaMessi (76', 87')
1103-May-11Champions LeagueBarcelona1–1Real Madrid 
1214-Aug-11Spanish Super CupReal Madrid2–2BarcelonaMessi (45+1')
1317-Aug-11Spanish Super CupBarcelona3–2Real MadridRonaldo (20'); Messi (53', 88')
1410-Dec-11Spanish La LigaReal Madrid1–3Barcelona 
1518-Jan-12Copa del ReyReal Madrid1–2BarcelonaRonaldo (11')
1625-Jan-12Copa del ReyBarcelona2–2Real MadridRonaldo (68')
1721-Apr-12Spanish La LigaBarcelona1–2Real MadridRonaldo (73')
1823-Aug-12Spanish Super CupBarcelona3–2Real MadridRonaldo (55'); Messi ( 70' p)
1929-Aug-12Spanish Super CupReal Madrid2–1BarcelonaRonaldo (19'); Messi ( 45')
2007-Oct-12Spanish La LigaBarcelona2–2Real MadridRonaldo (23', 66'); Messi (31', 61')
2130-Jan-13Copa del ReyReal Madrid1–1Barcelona 
2226-Feb-13Copa del ReyBarcelona1–3Real MadridRonaldo (12' p, 57')
2302-Mar-13Spanish La LigaReal Madrid2–1BarcelonaMessi (18')
2426-Oct-13Spanish La LigaBarcelona2–1Real Madrid 
2523-Mar-14Spanish La LigaReal Madrid3–4BarcelonaMessi (42', 65' p, 84' p); Ronaldo (55' p)
2625-Oct-14Spanish La LigaReal Madrid3–1BarcelonaRonaldo (35' p)
2718-Nov-14International friendlyArgentina0–1Portugal 
2822-Mar-15Spanish La LigaBarcelona2–1Real MadridRonaldo (31')
2921-Nov-15Spanish La LigaReal Madrid0–4Barcelona 
3002-Apr-16Spanish La LigaBarcelona1–2Real MadridRonaldo (85')
3103-Dec-16Spanish La LigaBarcelona1–1Real Madrid 
3223-Apr-17Spanish La LigaReal Madrid2–3BarcelonaMessi (33', 90+2')
3313-Aug-17Spanish Super CupBarcelona1–3Real MadridMessi (77' p); Ronaldo (80')
3423-Dec-17Spanish La LigaReal Madrid0–3BarcelonaMessi (64' p)
3506-May-18Spanish La LigaBarcelona2–2Real MadridRonaldo (14'); Messi (52')
3608-Dec-20Champions LeagueBarcelona0–3JuventusRonaldo (13' p, 52' p)
3719-Jan-23Club friendlyRiyadh XI4–5Paris Saint-GermainMessi (3'); Ronaldo (34' p, 45+6')