In a recent simulation, four of the greatest footballers of all time - Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Diego Maradona and Pele - were put to the test to determine who truly deserves the title. While many consider these four players to be the best in history, others argue the inclusion of Zinedine Zidane, Alfredo Di Stefano, Ronaldo and Bobby Charlton. Individual honours and team achievements were taken into consideration, with Messi coming out on top with eight Ballon d'Or wins. However, Maradona and Pele's World Cup triumphs cannot be overlooked.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo: UEFA Champions League Legends
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are two of the greatest footballers of all time. They have won numerous individual and team awards, including the UEFA Champions League.
Messi's Champions League Record
Messi has won the Champions League five times with Barcelona. He is the competition's all-time leading scorer with 129 goals. Messi has also provided 49 assists in the Champions League, which is second only to Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo's Champions League Record
Ronaldo has won the Champions League five times with Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus. He is the competition's all-time leading scorer with 140 goals. Ronaldo has also provided 42 assists in the Champions League, which is third only to Messi and Robert Lewandowski.
Head-to-Head Record
Messi and Ronaldo have faced each other 36 times in their careers. Messi has won 16 of those matches, while Ronaldo has won 11. The two players have drawn nine times.
Who is the Better Player?
There is no easy answer to the question of who is the better player between Messi and Ronaldo. Both players have had incredible careers, and they have won numerous individual and team awards. Ultimately, it is up to each individual to decide who they believe is the better player.
Top 5 FAQs
Ronaldo has won the Champions League five times, while Messi has won it four times.
Ronaldo is the all-time leading scorer in the Champions League with 140 goals.
Messi has provided the most assists in the Champions League with 49 assists.
Messi has won the Ballon d'Or seven times, while Ronaldo has won it five times.
Ronaldo has won the FIFA World Player of the Year award five times, while Messi has won it six times.
Former Arsenal and England player Alan Smith has warned Ivan Toney that his England career may be over after the striker's move to the Saudi Pro League for a money-spinning deal worth more than £400,000-a-week. Toney, who had been hoping for a call-up for the national squad, was left out of the team's first games after his move. Smith believes Toney may never add to his six international caps following his move, and while it may be a financially rewarding decision, it may also signal the end of his prime as a player.
Para-athlete Navdeep Singh's silver medal was upgraded to gold after Iran's Beit Sayah Sadegh was disqualified in the men's javelin throw F41 final. India has achieved its best-ever return from the Para Games with Navdeep's gold and Simran Sharma's bronze in the women's 200m T12 race. Shot-putter Hokato Sema also secured a bronze in the men's F57 category final with a career-best throw. Fans celebrated the para-athletes' arrival at the Delhi airport with flower showers.
Nitish Reddy's incredible diving catch dismissed Mayank Agarwal and gave India B the initial breakthrough against India A in the final day of the Duleep Trophy opener. With Yash Dayal and Navdeep Saini picking up wickets in the morning session, India B is looking to secure all six points. However, the four-wicket collapse of India A has put them in danger of suffering a loss. The senior stars are in need of a big partnership to avoid a potential defeat in the final hours of the match.
Meet Shubman Gill, India's cricketing prodigy who has been setting new records and making waves in the sport at just 25 years of age. From his debut in the U-19 World Cup to becoming the captain of India C, Gill has been consistently delivering top performances. And now, with his impressive Test debut at the iconic MCG, he has truly cemented his place as a future cricket legend.
India's Navdeep Singh has won the gold medal in the men's javelin F41 category at the Paris Paralympics after initial winner Sadegh Beit Sayah of Iran was disqualified for repeatedly displaying an objectionable flag. This marks India's first-ever gold in the category and a personal best for Navdeep, who had previously finished fourth at the Tokyo Games. He beat out China's world record holder with a 47.32m throw to claim the top spot.
Shubman Gill, the young and talented cricketer, turns 25 today and his achievements in the sport are already making waves. From his consistent performances in international cricket to his memorable stints in the IPL, Gill has been showing immense potential as a top-order batsman. As he celebrates his birthday, let's take a look at his top 10 performances that have made him a key player in the Indian team.
The media is buzzing after interim dual-national England football manager Lee Carsley's comments about not singing the national anthem. In a press conference, Sir Keir Starmer was asked about Carsley's stance, causing backlash from the public. Having played for both England and Ireland, the Birmingham-born defensive midfielder's patriotism is being questioned as he prepares for his first match in charge.
In a thrilling college football game, Alabama's comeback in the fourth quarter secured a victory over South Florida after a tough start to the game. Meanwhile, in women's college basketball news, Angel Reese's record-setting rookie season has come to an unexpected end after only two weeks due to injury.
Australia cruised to victory in the third and final T20I against Scotland, completing a series cleansweep with a 70-run win. Travis Head and skipper Mitchell Marsh led the Australian charge, setting a record-breaking powerplay total and smashing 155 runs in just 58 balls. In the second match, Josh Inglis stole the show with a quick-fire century, leaving Scotland reeling. With the third match fast approaching, Scotland will need to find a way to halt Australia's powerful batting lineup if they want to avoid a humiliating series defeat. Fans can catch all the action live on ABP Live.
After initially winning silver, Navdeep Singh was awarded India's first-ever gold medal in the men's javelin F41 category at the Paris Paralympics. This was a result of Iran's Sadegh Beit Sayah being disqualified for repeatedly displaying an objectionable flag during the competition. Navdeep, who competes in the classification meant for athletes of short stature, produced a personal best effort of 47.32m to claim the top position.