The 2008/09 season compared: Messi 38 goals and 19 assists, Ronaldo 26 goals and 12 assists. Appearances, goals per game and trophies won.
The 2008/09 season, side by side — goals, assists, appearances and what each man won. Messi took it 38–26.
| Metric | Lionel Messi | Cristiano Ronaldo |
|---|---|---|
| Club | FC Barcelona | Manchester United |
| Age that season | 21 | 23 |
| Goals | 38 | 26 |
| Assists | 19 | 12 |
| Goal contributions | 57 | 38 |
| Appearances | 51 | 53 |
| Goals per game | 0.75 | 0.49 |
| International goals | 2 | 1 |
| Ballon d'Or | Yes | No |
Both careers season by season, so you can see where 2008/09 sits in the arc.
| Season | Messi goals | Messi apps | Ronaldo goals | Ronaldo apps | Higher |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024/25 | 23 | 36 | 10 | 18 | Messi |
| 2023/24 | 11 | 19 | 50 | 56 | Ronaldo |
| 2022/23 | 21 | 32 | 17 | 25 | Messi |
| 2021/22 | 11 | 34 | 24 | 39 | Ronaldo |
| 2020/21 | 38 | 47 | 36 | 44 | Messi |
| 2019/20 | 31 | 44 | 37 | 46 | Ronaldo |
| 2018/19 | 51 | 50 | 28 | 43 | Messi |
| 2017/18 | 45 | 54 | 44 | 44 | Messi |
| 2016/17 | 54 | 52 | 42 | 46 | Messi |
| 2015/16 | 41 | 49 | 51 | 54 | Ronaldo |
| 2014/15 | 58 | 57 | 61 | 54 | Ronaldo |
| 2013/14 | 41 | 46 | 51 | 52 | Ronaldo |
| 2012/13 | 60 | 50 | 55 | 55 | Messi |
| 2011/12 | 73 | 60 | 60 | 55 | Messi |
| 2010/11 | 53 | 55 | 53 | 54 | Level |
| 2009/10 | 47 | 53 | 33 | 35 | Messi |
| 2008/09 | 38 | 51 | 26 | 53 | Messi |
| 2007/08 | 16 | 40 | 42 | 49 | Ronaldo |
| 2006/07 | 17 | 36 | 23 | 53 | Ronaldo |
| 2005/06 | 8 | 25 | 12 | 50 | Ronaldo |
| 2004/05 | 1 | 9 | 9 | 50 | Ronaldo |
| 2003/04 | — | — | 6 | 40 | Ronaldo |