Cristiano Ronaldo lays claim to a number of amazing Champions League records, but long-time rival Lionel Messi has six of them within reach.
The Champions League round of 16 is well underway, and although Lionel Messi was on the losing side last night, he’ll still have some staggering Cristiano Ronaldo records in his sights.
MOST UCL HAT-TRICKS
Both Messi and Ronaldo have claimed eight Champions League match balls in their careers. They are currently neck and neck in that regard. Messi just needs one more hat-trick to claim that one all by himself.
MOST CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINALS SCORED IN
If PSG reach the final (it’s a big if, at this point after their 0-1 defeat to Bayern last night) and Messi scores, he’ll equal Ronaldo as the only other player to find the net in three separate UCL finals. He scored in both the 2009 and 2011 showpieces against Man United; one of them was a towering header!
MOST UCL GOALS AFTER TURNING 35
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 12 Champions League goals since turning 35, while Messi has eight. The Argentina could easily envisage himself scoring four in the knockouts this season should PSG get past Bayern. Again, this one might have to wait until next season.
The UEFA Champions League trophy. Photo: FABRICE OFFRINI / AFP.
A HALF-CENTURY OF GOALS IN THE UCL KNOCKOUTS
CR7 is the only player to have scored 50+ goals in Champions League matches from the round of 16 onwards. Messi has 49 goals in this particular metric, while Ronaldo has a staggering 67 UCL knockout goals. It’s unlikely he’ll be caught.
MOST GOALS AGAINST A SINGLE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE OPPONENT
Cristiano Ronaldo represented Juventus with distinction, but he’s scored 10 UCL goals against them while playing for other clubs. Remarkable. One of them was surely the most unforgettable goal in the competition’s history, a bicycle kick that had even the Juve fans off their seats and applauding. Messi has eight goals against Milan down the years and seven vs Man City. However, he does have nine against Arsenal and the Gunners look set to qualify for the UCL next season. Perhaps Leo can wait for next season to break this specific record.
Lionel Messi along with some of his superstar PSG teammates. Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
MOST UCL GOALS
Ronaldo’s record tally of 140 UCL goals is an astonishing one, but little Leo Messi is just 11 behind him with 129. He couldn’t, could he?
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An art school student gives final touches to a painting of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in Mumbai on November 18, 2022. (Photo by INDRANIL MUKHERJEE / AFP)
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RECORDS LIONEL MESSI COULD STEAL FROM CRISTIANO RONALDO
Cristiano Ronaldo, aka Mr Champions League, lays claim to a bunch of astonishing UCL records tot his day. However, because he’s not competing in it this season, old rival Lionel Messi could be eyeing out some of them. Already the holder of many Champions League records in his own right, Messi could go and claim a few more.
Kathryn Mayorga lawyer ordered to pay legal fees to Cristiano Ronaldo
By Daniel Kaplan and Kate Burlaga57m ago
The lawyer of a woman who accused Cristiano Ronaldo of rape has been ordered to pay $334,637.50 to reimburse Ronaldo for the legal fees he incurred defending himself against the lawsuit that was dismissed last year.
Kathryn Mayorga had alleged that Ronaldo raped her at a Las Vegas hotel in 2009 but the player strongly denied the allegations. She had settled with the Portugal star in 2010, but filed the lawsuit in 2018 after Football Leaks divulged details of Ronaldo’s lawyers’ communications.
Source: thesouthafrican.com; theathletic.com
