The Union of European Football Associations, UEFA, has revealed nine records Barcelona ace, Lionel Messi and Juventus star, Cristiano Ronaldo have not yet broken in the history of Europe’s topflight competitions, (Champions League and Europe League).
UEFA took to their official website on Wednesday to release the records, indicating that Messi and Ronaldo are yet to break the following feats in the Europe topflight leagues:
1. Most appearances
Messi has 126, whereas Ronaldo has 158, however, the record is being controlled by metropolis goalkeeper, Iker Casillas (179).
2. Most final goals
Messi has scored only two final goals (in 2009 and 2011), whereas Ronaldo has four (one for each one in 2008 and 2014, and 2 in 2017) but is still three shy of the record shared by two Real Madrid legends, Alfredo Di Stéfano, Ferenc Puskás, who have both scored seven.
3. Oldest goalscorer
AC Milan legend, Paolo Maldini scored for his side’s defeat to Liverpool at the age of 36 in the 2005 Champions League final and also Roma legend, Francesco Totti scored at the age of 38 in his side’s Champions League group stage clash against CSKA Moskva in 2014.
4. The player with most success with different clubs
Clarence Seedorf (Ajax 1995, Real Madrid 1998, Milan 2003, 2007) and Zlatan Ibrahimović (Ajax, Juventus, Internazionale, Barcelona, Milan, Paris Saint-Germain) are both ahead of Messi and Ronaldo.
5. Fastest goal
Roy Makaay scored in 10.12 seconds for Bayern München against Real Madrid in 2007. Ronaldo’s earliest Champions League goal came in the fourth minute for Real Madrid against Juventus in 2013, while Messi’s fastest goal came in three minutes into Barcelona’s 7-0 win against Celtic in 2016.
6. Long-distance goal
Manchester United legend, Ryan Giggs has sixteen long-distance goals within the Champions League. Ronaldo has 13, whereas Messi has 14.
7. Goalscoring consistency
Bayern Munich forward, Gerd Müller has 0.97 goals per game ratio. Ronaldo has 0.76, whereas Messi has 0.82.
8. Fastest hat-tricks
Bafétimbi Gomis got his fastest hat-trick for Olympique Lyonnais against Dinamo Zagreb in 2011. Ronaldo scored his fastest hat-trick in 12 minutes for Real Madrid against Malmö in 2012 whereas Messi scored his fastest hat-trick in 22 minutes for Barcelona against Arsenal in 2010.
9. Most goals in a single European season
Colombia striker, Radamel Falcao scored 18 goals for Porto throughout the 2010/11 UEFA Europa League. Messi’s best year came in 2011/12 when he ended the European season with 14 goals, whereas Ronaldo set a European Cup/UEFA Champions League record with 17 in 2013/14.