Messi or Ronaldo? Head-to-head who’s record is best

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Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are set to renew their rivalry in a mouth-watering Champions League clash in Spain on Tuesday.

THE PAIR WILL MEET FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE MAY 2018

Messi and Ronaldo will meet for the first time since May 2018 when Barcelona host Juventus at the Camp Nou.

Kick-off is at 22:00 SA time.

Both clubs have already qualified for the next round of the tournament. What’s at stake is the all-important top spot in Group G.

Despite a woeful start to their La Liga season (they are ninth after 10 matches, 12 points behind Atletico Madrid), Barcelona boast a perfect 5-from-5 record in the Champions League, giving them a three-point lead over Juventus.

Juventus would have to beat Barcelona 4-0 to snatch top spot in Tuesday’s final match of the group.

Ronaldo will be key in Juventus having any chance in doing so.

But how have the two superstars historically fared in head-to-head encounters?

The pair have faced off on 35 occasions throughout their respective careers to date, with three of those matches coming during Ronaldo’s time with Manchester United and the remainder during the Portugal star’s spell with Barcelona’s fierce rivals Real Madrid.

During that period, Messi’s Barcelona emerged victorious on 16 occasions in comparison to his arch-rival’s 10 wins.

Messi has also enjoyed a better personal return, scoring 22 goals, as opposed to Ronaldo’s 19.

Ronaldo will be looking to rectify those figures on Tuesday, but will have to break a personal hoodoo in order to do so.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has never scored a Champions League goal against a side in which Messi has played on five previous occasions.

Messi and Ronaldo’s head-to-head rivalry by the numbers:

Matches played: 35
Matches won by Messi: 16
Matches won by Ronaldo: 10
Matches drawn: 9
Goals scored by Messi: 22
Goals scored by Ronaldo: 19

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES – TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8

All times SA

Lazio v Club Brugge – 19:55

Zenit St Petersburg v Borussia Dortmund – 19:55

Barcelona v Juventus – 22:00

Chelsea v Krasnodar – 22:00

Dynamo Kyiv v Ferencvaros – 22:00

PSG v Basaksehir – 22:00

RB Leipzig v Manchester United – 22:00

Rennes v Sevilla – 22:00

LOGS | LATEST STANDINGS IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

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