The Messi-Ronaldo rivalry had been a central discussion in the world of football over the past two decades. If you watch the sport, you likely had an opinion. And if you had an opinion, boy would you argue your corner.
Given the rise in popularity of FIFA, this debate transcended football fandom and began to play out in the virtual realm—with FIFA players opting for one player or another to join their virtual squad.
Let’s take a look back at the history of these two players’ virtual incarnations, exploring how they evolved alongside this debate, and where that leaves us today.
Early FIFA Years (FIFA 06-10)
FIFA 06 marked an explosive point for the franchise as it erupted into the public consciousness. But when it comes to the Ronaldo-Messi debate, the game clearly took a side. Ronaldo already took one of the games’ top spots ranking at 91; while Messi was a promising youngster only coming in at 84. The largest gap the two players would ever see.
By FIFA 09 the gap was beginning to narrow, with Ronaldo reaching 93 and Messi bridging the gap with an overall rating of 90.
Peak FIFA Era (FIFA 11-15)
The golden age of both of these players’ careers came in the early 2010s, so you can imagine how this rivalry heated up in the virtual realm.
FIFA 11 saw this rivalry, and gave fans a lot to argue about by placing Ronaldo and Messi at 94—matching scores to reflect the towering personalities of both of these legendary players.
This equal-footing continued throughout these golden years, with the players shuffling around between OVR of 93 and 94—but remaining ranked equally.
The Late FIFA Years (FIFA 16-23)
This final stage of the players’ spotlight careers continues to recognise the duo’s elite status—while, of course, making room for new talent at the top. While FIFA 19 still ranked both players at 94, by FIFA 23 both of these giants had dropped down to 91 (for Messi) and 90 (for Ronaldo). Marking a slow decline, but keeping the rivalry neck-and-neck.
The FC Era
This most recent era offers up a new perspective on both players—mainly because their careers have both shifted significantly since their power plays at Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively. Both players have moved to smaller clubs in less competitive leagues—Messi at Inter Miami and Ronaldo playing in Saudi Arabia. Despite that, the players’ personalities still show through in the new and improved mechanics, making them incredibly enjoyable to play and, of course, still very sought after.
Signature Moves and Animations
Throughout this entire trajectory, from 2006 to today, both players have been recognized by EA as among the most beloved and skilful players in the sport. With the developers creating a variety of signature moves for both. From Ronaldo’s characteristic running style and “SIUU” celebration to Messi’s unique posture and close ball control.
This attention to detail in the game design has kept the players alive beyond their reputations.
Ultimate Team Impact
While both players have remained at the top of the ratings for the entirety of this period, their desirability in FIFA/FC Ultimate Team has been a little less balanced. If we look at prices, Ronaldo cards have almost always commanded higher prices due to his combination of height, shooting and pace—making him a little more meta than Messi when it comes to FIFA playstyles. That trend continues today with Ronaldo costing more FC25 Coins than Messi—for the most part.
Of course, rating isn’t everything. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or not, you likely gravitate more to one of these players, perhaps simply for their swagger and personality. Me personally, I’m… Well, perhaps you’ll be able to tell from the clues hidden throughout this article.