Two of the most legendary footballers in history are Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Extraordinary talent, numerous records and a fierce rivalry that has mesmerized fans for over a decade. So how old are Messi and Ronaldo by 2024?
In this quest, the document is a deep dive between Messi and Ronaldo over their ages while providing some breath-taking career figures which are being unraveled as they play at top levels. Their ages and accomplishments will give an insight into how they achieve their historic legacies in football.
Current Ages of Messi and Ronaldo
Lionel Messi:
- Date of Birth: June 24, 1987
- Age in 2024: 37 years old
Cristiano Ronaldo:
- Date of Birth: February 5, 1985
- Age in 2024: 39 years old
Quick Comparison of Their Birthdates
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo follow each other with just a little more than two years between their births. He was born June 24, 1987 to be exact in the summer month of June generally known and celebrated for its longest days.
Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo was born on Feb. 5, 1985, at the height of winter bringing to light his fiery flair in one of its colder months.
The dates of their arrival defined not just the start of extreme lives, but also embossed upon the annals of football history in a way rivaled by no other.
Early Careers
Messi’s Early Years and Rise to Fame
Born 24 June 1987 in his hometown of Rosario in Argentina, Lionel Andres Messi began early on entering the world of football.
Messi demonstrated a marked talent for the sport at an early age, and joined the youth team of Newell’s Old Boys. His local boyhood club who had coached legends such as Gabriel Batistuta.
Recognizing his talent, FC Barcelona signed Messi to their under-14 team in 2000 and agreed to pay for growth hormone treatment that he needed due to a medical issue.
In 2004 Messi made his senior debut for Barcelona at the age of 17. Over time, he proved to be worth the club’s investment as his blistering dribbles, otherworldly vision and penchant for scoring goals made him stand out among all of the best players in their teens.
It was in the 2005-2006 season that Messi lit up, underpinned by a starring role as Barcelona clinched both La Liga and UEFA Champions League titles.
It was a meteoric rise to fame, and by the time he turned 20 years old be considered as one of the best players in his position on this planet. His formative years in the sport set-up an era that would proceed to be one of dominance and legacy.
Ronaldo’s Early Years and Rise to Fame
The road to football stardom for Cristiano Ronaldo began on the Portuguese island of Madeira. He was born in a poor family and we saw Ronaldos’ interest for football from an early age.
He joined Andorinha at just eight years of age, a local youth team where his father worked as a kit man. However, his gift ultimately didn’t go unnoticed by big clubs and he ended up at Nacional before moving to the world-renowned Sporting CP academy in Lisbon.
Ronaldo impressed at Sporting CP and had climbed through the ranks to their first team by just 16.
Lennon turned his head in a pre-season friendly against Manchester United with an eye-catching display, catching the attention of players and manager Sir Alex Ferguson at the English club.
As a result, Manchester United eventually signed the teenager and Ronaldo made his move to Old Trafford that summer.
Most notably, Ronaldo was given the iconic number 7 shirt for Manchester United that had been previously worn by legends such as George Best, Eric Cantona and David Beckham.
Still, Ronaldo excelled under the burden of that stress where he proved to possess world-class technical attributes with his dribbling as a powerful and lightning quick winger who could score from nearly anywhere.
And his first season ended with FA Cup-winning glory in 2004, continuing to excel as Spurs clinched three successive Premier League titles between 06 and 09, also adding a UEFA Champions League shield in ’08.
Ronaldo, who by 2009 was in his final season with Manchester United before moving south to Real Madrid as one of the best players on Earth.
His journey to the top was built on resolve, ability and ambition but also he paved a path for himself that would be unmistakably golden in further record-setting success.
Career Milestones
Major Achievements and Records Held by Messi
Most Ballon d’Or Awards:
Lionel Messi has won the Ballon d’Or award seven times, which is a record for most wins by any player. Given each year to the best male footballer in the world, this award is one of the most prestigious and celebrated honors.
Record-Breaking Goals for a Single Club:
The most unforgettable of all, Messi’s goals for a single club side in history. In his time at FC Barcelona, he scored an incredible 672 goals to break records previously held by legends such as Pelé.
Most Goals in a Calendar Year:
Messi demonstrated he had a gift for scoring with his 91 goals in one year back in 2012, which set the record of Gerd Müller that had remained unbroken for years.
Top Scorer in La Liga History:
Messi stands as the highest ever goal scorer in La Liga history with 450+ goals, affirming his era ending legacy within Spanish football.
Most Goals in El Clásico:
No player has scored more goals in El Clásico clashes (Barcelona vs Real Madrid) than Messi, with the Argentinian’s 26 out on his own
Most Assists in La Liga:
Besides scoring countless goals, Messi is also the highest assist provider in La Liga history as he has shown his willingness to help others and play for the team.
Youngest to 100 Champions League Goals:
In March 2018, becoming only second player up to score century goals in UEFA Champions league while achieving it at younger age then his rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
Olympic Gold Medalist:
Messi was part of the Argentina team that won Olympic gold in Beijing, a huge honor and one where success came early for him with this country.
Copa América Triumph:
Messi guided Argentina to Copa America glory in 2021, claiming his first major international honour as the nation won their continental showpiece for a 15th time and ending a 28-year wait.
FIFA World Cup Golden Ball:
The 2014 FIFA World Cup gives Lionel Messi the golden ball award for player of the tournament.
Major Achievements and Records Held by Ronaldo
Most Ballon d’Or Awards:
The Ballon d’Or award has been won five times by Cristiano Ronaldo, a giant in the world of football. It is an annual award given to the best male footballer in the world.
Top Scorer in the UEFA Champions League:
Europe’s biggest stage has seen legendary numbers from Ronaldo, who now holds the record for most goals scored in UEFA Champions League history (with well over 130 strikes to his name), testament to just how regularly he performs when it really counts.
Most Goals in a Single UEFA Champions League Season:
And he scored a Champions League-record 17 goals in just six games en route to the last term of Real Madrid’s “Decima” , their tenth European Cup title.
First Player to Score in Every Minute of a Game:
Ronaldo is the only player in football as a way to score an intention for the full 90 minutes of a 90-minute match, which illustrates his versatility and passive goal-scoring file.
Most International Goals:
Consequently, Ronaldo is now the all-time top goal-scorer in international football; breaking a record that was held by Iran’s Ali Daei after scoring over 110 goals for his country of Portugal.
Most Goals in European Championship History:
Cristiano Ronaldo The all-time top scorer at the UEFA European Championship, across multiple tournaments and only player to (currently) score in 5 different editions.
Fastest to Reach 100 Goals in the UEFA Champions League:
Ronaldo’s 100 though came faster than any other, tucked away in just 137 Champions League games.
Winning Major Domestic Titles in Three Countries:
An incredible footballer, Ronaldo is thankfully one of those rare breeds to win the top three domestic league titles in England which came when he was at Manchester United; Spain whilst playing for Real Madrid and now Italy at Juventus.
Most Goals in Real Madrid History:
At Real Madrid, Ronaldo netted 450 goals in all competitions to become the club’s topscorer of all-time.
Most Goals in a Calendar Year for Real Madrid:
In 2013, Ronaldo scored an all-time high of 69 goals in a calendar year for Real Madrid.
Euro 2016 Champion:
Cristiano Ronaldo won Portugal their first international trophy, guiding them to victory in the 2016 UEFA European Championship.
Nations League Winner:
Ronaldo also played a key role in helping Portugal to the first ever UEFA Nations League title over Switzerland last year, another major international trophy he can add to his overall collection.
Most FIFA Club World Cups:
Ronaldo is one of the only players to have won the FIFA Club World Cup four times, two at Manchester United and twice with Madrid, a testament to his global influence on soccer.
Physical Fitness and Longevity
Lionel Messi’s Physical Fitness Regime
Lionel Messi combines full body conditioning with injury prevention. He follows a strength, agility and flexibility training routine
For his part, Messi does strength-training workouts including plyometrics (well suited to enhancing explosive power and quickness).
He also adds in plenty of cardio with his workouts, including interval training to keep him some level off endurance.
He adheres to a balanced diet tuned for elite nutrition consisting of high proteins (one-gram protein per pound), and mixes in complex carbs, healthy fats that help him fuel up his body with sufficient energy needed on the field along with muscle repair after training.
Messi also does yoga and various mobility exercises, helping him keep his joints mobile while reducing the chance of injury.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Physical Fitness Regime
Cristiano Ronaldo is a freak in terms of his physical fitness and work ethic, the guy lives to be at the top. The training here is an exact combination of cardio, strength and technical drills.
Ronaldo’s workouts also include interval cardio using a training method to work in the anaerobic zone and thus implement fat burning, improving cardiovascular function.
It is a full-body strength training program with muscle building workouts for the body parts such as; weightlifting, bands and some calisthenics.
Ronaldo follows a clean and lean, highly nutritious diet consisting of animal proteins from chicken breasts, egg whites to whole grains like quinoa rice and fresh produce like veggies! And he also steers clear of sugary foods such as soda drinks or junk-items.
This has great emphasis on recovery, where his regimen of ice baths and massage therapy is accompanied by effective sleep which allows the body to effectively repair itself after physical activity.
The Role of Age in Their Performance and Longevity
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have spent elite careers moving the proverbial goalposts despite what should happen to everyone when they get older as athletes.
Even as they approach their mid-30s, both of them still play at incredibly high levels and have constantly trained to keep themselves in top physical shape.
They may have gained little in the way of speed as they got older, but experience and a different understanding of their game meant that more often than not they would be able to outwit younger opponents with superior technical skills.
But there has been an adjustment in the way that they prepare and play for these recent years as speed fades, so do things such as recovery times.
Being able to maintain this level of performance at such an advanced age is a testament not only to the commitment the pair has, but should also serve as some form of motivation for next generation athletes who are looking to extend their careers.
Statistical Comparison of Their Performances Over the Years
Club Performance
Goals Scored:
Lionel Messi:
- Barcelona (2004-2021): 672 goals in 778 appearances
- Paris Saint-Germain (2021-present): Goals and appearances as of the latest season
Cristiano Ronaldo:
- Sporting CP (2002-2003): 5 goals in 31 appearances
- Manchester United (2003-2009, 2021-present): Goals and appearances from both spells
- Real Madrid (2009-2018): 450 goals in 438 appearances
- Juventus (2018-2021): 101 goals in 134 appearances
Assists:
Lionel Messi:
- Renowned for his playmaking abilities, Messi has over 300 assists in his career, demonstrating his all-round contribution to his teams’ attacks.
Cristiano Ronaldo:
- Known for his finishing prowess, Ronaldo has also contributed significantly with over 200 assists throughout his career, showcasing his versatility in creating opportunities for his teammates.
International Performance
Goals Scored:
Lionel Messi:
- Argentina: Over 90 goals in more than 160 appearances
Cristiano Ronaldo:
- Portugal: Over 110 goals in more than 180 appearances
Trophies Won:
Lionel Messi:
- Copa America: 1 (2021)
- Olympic Gold Medal: 1 (2008)
- FIFA U-20 World Cup: 1 (2005)
Cristiano Ronaldo:
- UEFA European Championship: 1 (2016)
- UEFA Nations League: 1 (2019)
Club Trophies Won
League Titles:
Lionel Messi:
- La Liga: 10 titles with Barcelona
- Ligue 1: Titles with Paris Saint-Germain
Cristiano Ronaldo:
- Premier League: 3 titles with Manchester United
- La Liga: 2 titles with Real Madrid
- Serie A: 2 titles with Juventus
UEFA Champions League:
- Lionel Messi: 4 titles with Barcelona (2006, 2009, 2011, 2015)
- Cristiano Ronaldo: 5 titles (1 with Manchester United in 2008, 4 with Real Madrid in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018)
Awards and Accolades
Ballon d’Or:
- Lionel Messi: 7 times (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021)
- Cristiano Ronaldo: 5 times (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017)
Golden Boots:
- Lionel Messi: 6 times, awarded to the top European scorer
- Cristiano Ronaldo: 4 times, awarded to the top European scorer
Conclusion
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will go down as two of the best footballers ever, their legacies already cast in stone.
Over the course of so many years, they forced each other to play better than anyone else ever dared in thrilling performances that thrilled fans and produced records unlikely to be broken.
Messi and Ronaldo, although aging like all great sportsmen must do with time simply passing, have shown remarkable longevity; exceptional athletes performing at elite levels in their mid-30s.
Their stories are incredible examples of how working hard, sticking to your guns and never giving up can pay off in the end.
Even as they work their way into the latter stages of their careers and ultimately retirement, though, athletics owes a significant debt to them.
The torch they pass to those in the game that follow them will continue with the tradition and set up a lasting legacy for many years down from football after Messi, and Ronaldo are gone.
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