Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
The fierce conflict between the historical duo continues
Argentina legend Lionel Messi continued to make history after cementing his lead in the list of top free-kick scorers among current players following Argentina’s 3-1 win over Jordan at the end of the 2026 World Cup group stage.
The Argentina captain scored a superb free-kick to take his career free-kick tally to 72, remaining at the top of the list.
With this goal, Messi increased the gap with his historical rival, the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo, who ranks second with exactly 65 goals from free kicks, increasing the difference between the two legends to seven goals.
The rivalry between Messi and Ronaldo is one of the most iconic individual rivalries in football history as they have held records for more than 15 years, but the Argentine star has clearly excelled in taking direct free kicks in recent years.
{“type”:”power-rankings-carousel”,”data”:{}}
Messi continues to produce excellent performances at the 2026 World Cup, leading his country in his group, once again confirming his ability to make the difference in big games, from open play or set pieces, which has become one of his most prominent strengths.
Ronaldo, on the other hand, still has a chance to close the gap as he continues his career with Portugal in the knockout stages of the tournament, trying to lead his country to the title while continuing to chase the records that have always marked his storied career.
