Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo chase 1,000 goals as rivalry endures | OneFootball

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are united by a chase to reach 1,000 competitive goals, with Ronaldo currently closer and closing in on 980 for club and country.

According to Goal.com, former MLS goalkeeper Shaka Hislop believes their shared legacy means neither will want the other to hit four figures alone, and he said two players over 1,000 would be fitting.

Ronaldo, with 146 international goals, even played at the 2026 World Cup at 41 while starring for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. He has kept elite standards with Golden Boots and domestic titles, and there has been talk of his career running beyond the expiry of his current deal in summer 2027.

Messi, 39, recently played in a third World Cup final and has another Ballon d'Or nod, with eight already to his name. He has ended his Argentina career on 207 caps and 125 goals, remains contracted to Inter Miami through 2028 and is nearing 930 in total.

Former Manchester United team-mate Giuseppe Rossi has questioned whether Messi even tracks Ronaldo’s tally, yet said he is sure the Argentine can reach 1,000 within the next three years. Wesley Sneijder has suggested 1,000 is the next target for both, insisting Ronaldo will not stop before it and expressing confidence Messi will also get there.

Source: Goal.com

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”