Just like in almost every possible statistical comparison between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, the Barcelona star has a lead over the Real Madrid one when it comes to goals being scored in Clasico matches, scoring 18 to his “rival’s” 12, although he’s had a bit more time to brush up CV in this match.
Messi is tied with Alfredo di Stefano at the top of the Clasico’s all time scoring list, having scored 18 goals against Real Madrid in all competitions, including 11 inthe league. Cristiano Ronaldo is now in his fifth season with the club, and has so far scored 12 goals against Barcelona in all competitions, including four when it comes to league clashes between the two sides.
Messi had an impressive start to his El Clasico scoring resume with a hat trick in the famous 3-3 draw between the teams on March 10, 2007. He waited almost two years to taste his first victory in the rivalry, as Barcelona began a streak of wins in the contest that lasted more than 3 years when it came to league matches, beating Real Madrid on December 13, 2008 thank to Messi and Samuel Eto’o leading a 2-0 victory against 10 men.
Messi scored three goals against Real Madrid in the league matches between the sides last season: twice in the 2-2 Camp Nou draw, and another one as Barcelona were beaten 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu, making it the first time since the 2007-2008 without a league win over Real Madrid.
Ronaldo, at one time, had a streak of six consecutive matches with at least one goal scored against Barcelona. He actually found it difficult against the Guardiola machine early in his career, including in his Manchester United days. However, once the floodgates were opened, he couldn’t stop.
His biggest moment was in 2011-2012, as Real Madrid pretty much clinched their only league title of the last five years. Barcelona were the favorites in the second league Clasico of the season (April 21, 2012), carrying a streak of 7 consecutive matches without a loss in the La Liga against Real Madrid. However, Real Madrid won 2-1 through a Cristiano Ronaldo goal in the second half that made sure he’d win his only championship thus far with Los Blancos, and the only major title won by the club since the beginning of the Galacticos 2.0 era.
Art by Panos13United