You’ve seen the debates. You’ve probably been in them. Fans at the local pub or in the chaotic trenches of Twitter (X) screaming about Ballon d’Or counts and World Cup trophies. But when it comes down to the literal passage of time, people get surprisingly foggy about the details. So, let's just settle it: Cristiano Ronaldo is older than Lionel Messi.
It isn't even that close, honestly. We aren't talking about a few weeks or a couple of months. There’s a significant gap between these two that has shaped their entire career trajectories, especially now as we look toward the 2026 World Cup.
The Birthday Breakdown: Ronaldo vs Messi
Cristiano Ronaldo was born on February 5, 1985.
Lionel Messi was born on June 24, 1987.
Basically, Ronaldo is about 2 years and 4 months older than Messi. To be incredibly specific—because football fans love a good trivia nugget—the exact difference is 869 days.
Interestingly, there’s this weird "glitch in the matrix" fact that fans always bring up: Ronaldo’s eldest son, Cristiano Jr., is also exactly 869 days older than Messi’s eldest son, Thiago. It’s one of those spooky sporting coincidences that feels like it was scripted by a lazy Hollywood writer, but it’s 100% real.
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Ronaldo is currently 40 years old. He’s hitting that "fine wine" stage where most players are five years into a comfortable retirement coaching a U-12 team, yet he’s still out there hunting for his 1,000th career goal with Al Nassr. Messi is 38. While he’s "the younger one," the physical toll of nearly two decades at the summit of the sport makes that two-year gap feel smaller than it used to.
How the Age Gap Changed Their Rivalry
Because Ronaldo is older, he got a head start. He was already a Manchester United superstar and a Ballon d’Or winner while Messi was still establishing himself as the "next big thing" in Barcelona's shadow.
- The Debut Gap: Ronaldo made his professional debut for Sporting CP in 2002. Messi didn't officially step onto the pitch for Barça’s first team until 2004.
- The Physical Peak: Ronaldo hit his athletic "prime" earlier, transitioning from a tricky winger to a goal-scoring machine. Messi’s peak came shortly after, defined by that legendary 91-goal calendar year in 2012.
- The Longevity Race: Because Ronaldo is 40, we are essentially watching a live experiment in human biology. He recently joked that his "biological age" is 28, and honestly, looking at his fitness data from WHOOP, he might not be lying.
When you compare their stats, you always have to keep the age difference in the back of your mind. Ronaldo usually has more total goals. Why? Because he’s played more games. He’s had two extra years of professional football to rack up those numbers. If you look at "goals per game" or stats at the same age (comparing 38-year-old Messi to 38-year-old Ronaldo), the conversation gets a lot more complicated.
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By the time Ronaldo was 36, he had roughly 762 official goals. When Messi hit 36, he had already surged past 800. It’s this constant game of cat and mouse where Messi is chasing the totals, but Ronaldo is the one setting the finish line further and further back.
2026: The Final Act for the Veterans
We are currently in 2026, and the conversation has shifted from "who is better" to "how much longer do we have?"
Ronaldo has already confirmed that the 2026 World Cup will "definitely" be his last major tournament. He’ll be 41 by the time the final whistle blows. Messi, at 38 (turning 39 during the tournament), is being a bit more coy about his future, but the reality is that we are witnessing the sunset of the greatest era in football history.
What to Watch for Next
If you’re tracking their careers, don't just look at the scoreboards. Look at how they’re managing their bodies.
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- Check the Minutes: Notice how Inter Miami and Al Nassr are managing their star players' workloads. At 38 and 40, "rest" is a tactical requirement, not a luxury.
- The 1,000 Goal Milestone: Ronaldo is currently obsessed with hitting 1,000 official goals. Whether he hits it before his 42nd birthday is the biggest individual storyline in sports right now.
- Appreciate the Nuance: Stop comparing a 40-year-old’s sprint speed to a 25-year-old’s. Instead, watch how they use their intelligence to find space when their legs won't do the work for them.
The age gap between Messi and Ronaldo is the reason we’ve had such a long, sustained rivalry. They didn't just peak and disappear; they overlapped for two decades. Whether you prefer the Portuguese powerhouse or the Argentine magician, the fact that a 40-year-old and a 38-year-old are still the most talked-about athletes on the planet is nothing short of ridiculous.
Keep an eye on the injury reports and starting lineups as the World Cup approaches. Every match now is a "limited edition" performance.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep a close watch on the official 2026 World Cup squad announcements. Seeing how their respective national team coaches integrate these "elder statesmen" into younger, faster lineups will be the definitive tactical story of the year.