Lionel Messi
Argentina
Cristiano Ronaldo
Portugal
43
Messi
5
Tied
39
Ronaldo
Messi vs Ronaldo Individual Awards
Comparing every major individual honour won by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo throughout their careers.
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi has built one of the greatest individual award collections in football history. His eight Ballon d'Or titles remain unmatched, while his eight FIFA Best / World Player awards underline how consistently he has been recognised as the world's best player.
Across domestic football, Messi won six European Golden Shoes, eight Pichichi trophies as La Liga's top scorer, and finished as the UEFA Champions League top scorer six times. His ability to score while creating chances for teammates made him one of the most complete attacking players ever.
Internationally, Messi's honours include two FIFA World Cup Golden Balls, two Copa América Golden Balls, 17 FIFPro World XI selections, and 16 Olimpia de Plata awards. These achievements reflect both his longevity and his influence across club and international football.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo's career is defined by remarkable consistency across multiple leagues. He has won five Ballon d'Or awards and five FIFA Best / World Player awards, establishing himself among football's greatest players.
Ronaldo owns the record for seven UEFA Champions League Top Scorer awardsand became the first player to finish as league top scorer in England, Spain, Italy and Saudi Arabia. His success across different countries highlights an ability to adapt that few players have matched.
Beyond his goal-scoring records, Ronaldo has earned 15 FIFPro World XI selections, six Globe Soccer Best Player awards, and five Portuguese Player of the Year honours. Combined with his international scoring records, they complete one of the most decorated individual careers in football.
Who Has More Individual Awards?
Looking at the biggest individual honours, Lionel Messi leads in total awards. He has won more Ballon d'Or titles (8-5), FIFA Best / World Player awards (8-5), European Golden Shoes (6-4), Pichichi trophies (8-3), World Cup Golden Balls (2-0), and IFFHS World's Best Playmaker awards (5-0).
Cristiano Ronaldo, meanwhile, holds the advantage in several categories of his own. He has won more Champions League Top Scorer awards (7-6), more Globe Soccer Best Player awards (6-1), and remains the only player to claim league Golden Boot honours in four different countries. He also has more Ballon d'Or nominations than Messi.
The numbers show why the Messi vs Ronaldo debate continues. Messi leads in overall individual recognition, while Ronaldo's achievements across multiple leagues and competitions are equally extraordinary. Together, they have set standards for individual excellence that may not be matched for generations.