Lionel Messi is rated higher than Cristiano Ronaldo on EA FC 24… but which superstar has had the edge in the popular game over the last 20 years?

• The top 100 ratings on the new EA FC 24 game have been leaked online 
• Both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have seen their cards downgraded 
• Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast It’s All Kicking Off 

For well over a decade, the question that would divide football debates was: Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? 

The two global superstars have dominated the sport since the early 2000s and, in turn, have been rewarded in accolades, lucrative pay checks and high ratings on EA Sports’ game FIFA. 

Now, as EA prepare to enter a new era under their new title ‘EA FC 24’, Messi’s and Ronaldo’s chokehold over world football has weakened – with neither player being ranked as the game’s highest-rated player.

In fact, both players have been handed a downgrade to their ratings from last year and one of them in particular will be unhappy with their player rating.

So, here, Mail Sport takes a look at Lionel Messi’s and Cristiano Ronaldo’s FIFA rating throughout their careers. Who comes out on top?

Cristiano Ronaldo (left) and Lionel Messi (right) have led EA Sport’s FIFA ratings in recent years

The two superstars have battled it out for over a decade to be the game’s highest rated player 

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FIFA O4 – Ronaldo wins

The 2004 edition of EA’s FIFA was the first version to feature either Messi or Ronaldo in the game – but only one of the superstars was available. 

It was Ronaldo – who had enjoyed his debut season at Manchester United – who was handed a modest rating of 80 by the video game makers. 

His Argentinian counterpart, meanwhile, had completed his final year with Barcelona’s B team – where he contributed six goals from 17 appearances. 

FIFA 05 – Ronaldo wins

Once again, there was only room for one superstar in EA’s flagship football game. 

Ronaldo, after an impressive second season with the Red Devils was handed an impressive 88 rating in the game. 

Messi, meanwhile, had just enjoyed his debut campaign for Barcelona, where he mustered just one goal from seven appearances and was yet to be implemented into the game.

Cristiano Ronaldo shone during the early stages of his career at Manchester United 

FIFA 06 – Ronaldo wins 

Finally, Messi is in the game. The Argentinian was handed a 78 rating for his debut in the FIFA franchise after playing a supporting role in Barcelona’s 2005-06 campaign.

However, the eventual seven-time Ballon d’Or winner was bested by a whopping 10 rating points by his Portuguese counterpart.

Ronaldo was awarded a 91 rating by the video game giants, who generously rewarded him for his nine-goal Premier League haul that season.

Only his Manchester United team-mate and FIFA cover star Wayne Rooney (93) had a higher rating than CR7.  

FIFA 07 – Ronaldo wins 

We’ve made it to 2007 and, at this point, Messi and Ronaldo are well on their way to becoming football’s biggest superstars. 

Messi had bagged 14 goals in 26 league games for the Catalan giants while Ronaldo scored 17 in 34 league matches for United.

Despite an impressive goal haul in England, Ronaldo’s rating actually went down to 87. Messi, meanwhile, was given an 84 rating. 

FIFA 08 – Ronaldo wins 

It was in 2008 when Cristiano Ronaldo really staked his claim as the best player in the world and it was reflected in his FIFA 08 player rating. 

The Portugal international was handed a huge rating of 91 in the game after his 42-goal haul in all competitions for United that year. 

In comparison, Messi scored 16 goals in all competitions in Spain that year and only saw his rating go up by two points – up to 86. 

The Portuguese forward scored 42 goals in 49 appearances in all competitions for United

For his incredible goal haul in 2007-08, Ronaldo was handed an impressive rating of 91

FIFA 09 – Ronaldo wins

This is where the battle for top spot really begins to heat up. 

Ronaldo continued his fine form from the season prior and scored 26 goals in all competitions – which earned him a move to Real Madrid and a 91 FIFA rating.

Messi was also awarded his highest rating to date in that edition, with his 90 rating being awarded after his 38-goal season for Barca.

FIFA 10 – Messi wins

This was, in FIFA terms, the turning point in the Messi vs Ronaldo debate. For it was in the 2010 edition of the game where the Argentinian took top spot.

Messi maintained his 90 rating after another impressive season in Spain but the same could not be said for his Portuguese rival.

Despite his world record move to Madrid, Ronaldo dropped two ratings and was only deemed worthy of an 89 overall rating. 

FIFA 11 – Messi wins

Once again, the Argentinian superstar takes the crown. 

The Barcelona superstar received another 90 overall rating, which kept him at the summit of FIFA’s rating list for that season.

Ronaldo, despite scoring 53 goals in 54 games for Madrid, still maintained an 89 rating for that year.

In the early 2010s Messi began to overtake Ronaldo in EA’s FIFA ratings

The Argentinian superstar scored 53 goals in 55 games in all appearances during 2010-11

FIFA 12 – Messi wins  

We’ve officially entered the era of when I was playing FIFA regularly and, funnily enough, both players stand out in the memory when reflecting on that game. 

This was the first year where Messi was given a huge 94 rating and was universally regarded as the best player in the world. 

At this point, he’d already collected four Ballon d’Ors and was well on his way to cementing a historic legacy.

Ronaldo, meanwhile, was handed a generous rating boost up to 92 but, again, was just pipped by his Argentinian rival.  

FIFA 13 – Messi wins

FIFA 13 was the first edition of the franchise that featured Messi as the cover star – so it’s understandable he was the game’s highest rated player.

The Argentine kept his stunning 94 rating – having scored 60 goals in 50 appearances for Barcelona that season.

Once again, Ronaldo maintained his 92 overall rating.

FIFA 14 – Messi wins

If you hadn’t noticed, there was a large period of the 2010s where Messi was widely regarded as the sport’s most elite player. 

That trend continued in FIFA 14, where Messi kept his table-topping 94 rating and Ronaldo stayed at 92 – despite scoring 55 goals in 55 games that year.

Even with their impressive ratings, many football fans will agree that Cagliari forward Victor Ibarbo was the best player on that edition of the game. 

By 2014, Messi had been EA’s highest rated FIFA player for a number of editions

During this season, Messi broke the La Liga goalscoring record after notching his 253rd goal

FIFA 15 – Messi wins

Even though he was still the best player in FIFA 15, Messi’s overall rating took a one point hit.

This was because Ronaldo had won back-to-back Ballon d’Ors (three in total) and was steadily creeping up on the Argentine’s tally.

However, even after his superb campaigns for Madrid, Ronaldo walked away with the same 92 rating he had held for the previous two years.  

FIFA 16 – Messi wins

In FIFA 26, Messi was restored back to his previous 94 rating which saw him retain his spot at the top of the ratings list once again.

However, rival Ronaldo was also handed a one rating boost and, again, was close on the Argentine’s tail.

FIFA 17 – Ronaldo wins

Another twist in EA’s tale!  

In FIFA 17, Ronaldo usurped his rival to clinch the title as the game’s highest rated player – as he boasted a 94 overall rating.

Messi, meanwhile, was demoted to a 93 rating despite scoring 54 goals in all competitions the season prior.

Whether it was the fact that Messi’s deal as the company’s cover star had just come to an end or simply because Ronaldo was better, remains unknown. 

FIFA 18 – Ronaldo wins

In unexpected scenes, Ronaldo clinched back-to-back titles as the game’s best player as he maintained an impressive 94 rating. 

Coincidentally, this was the first year in which Ronaldo was the cover star for the FIFA franchise.

Messi stayed on 93, as EA continued to favour his Portuguese rival.

In FIFA 18, Ronaldo returned to the summit of the FIFA ratings after a stellar campaign

The Portuguese forward helped Real Madrid clinch the Champions League title in 2017-18

FIFA 19 – DRAW 

We now arrive at the only edition of the game where both players received the same overall rating. 

And, if anything, that was a favourable outcome for FIFA 19 cover star Ronaldo – who endured a turbulent debut campaign at Juventus that year. 

Messi, meanwhile, had just scored 51 goals in 50 appearances in all competitions at Barcelona yet was only deemed worthy of a one-rating upgrade.

FIFA 20 – Messi wins

After being judged to be the same rating in FIFA 19, one year later and Messi had reclaimed his title as the game’s best player.

He was awarded a 94 rating while Ronaldo dropped down to 93 as his difficulties post-Real Madrid continued.

FIFA 21 – Messi wins

At this point, Ronaldo’s rating is on a downward trajectory that doesn’t seem to be slowing up. 

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner was handed a 92 overall rating – which was one lower than the previous season and two down from the season prior to that.  

Messi also dropped one rating, down to 93, but did little to impact his claim as the game’s best player. 

FIFA 22 – Messi wins

At this point, you probably don’t have to be reminded about who was better on the game, seeing as it was only a couple of years back.  

For FIFA 22, Messi was given a 93 overall rating. Ronaldo, on the other hand, received a 91 rating upon his stunning return to Manchester United.

In FIFA 22, Messi was the highest rated player amid Ronaldo’s struggles at Manchester United

The forward failed to re-create the heights he’d once hit at Old Trafford and swiftly left the club

FIFA 23 – Messi wins

The most recent edition. As everyone will be aware, both superstars have entered the twilights of their respective careers and it was reflected in their stats.

Messi, in FIFA 23, received a 91 rating – his lowest since 2011 – while Ronaldo picked up a 90 overall rating. 

The downward trajectory was certainly in play for CR7 but even he wouldn’t have expected the significant downgrade in the latest version of the game…

EA FC 24 – Messi wins

EA confirmed that they would be breaking away from the ‘FIFA’ franchise in a bid to build their new brand ‘FC’.

And, in the first edition of FC, Messi will take the victory in the head-to-head battle with his Portuguese counterpart. 

According to a recent leak, Inter Miami star Messi will have a 90 rating in-game while Ronaldo has dropped to an 86-rated player. 

His big-money move to Al-Nassr in December looks to have had a big impact on the superstar despite scoring 26 goals in 30 games for the Saudi giants. 

Who takes the overall title?  

Many fans have been unable to separate the iconic pair over the last two decades, but EA have.

Ronaldo stormed into the lead in the early stages of his career as Messi made his way in the game, but the World Cup winner has come firing back and eventually overtaken his rival.

With the EA FC 24 ratings being leaked, Messi now holds a 12-8 advantage over Ronaldo, with the pair also being rated equally back in 2019.

Does this settle the debate once and for all? Well, it depends which side of the argument you’re on! 

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

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