Cristiano Ronaldo loses his third final with Al-Nassr: How does that compare to Lionel Messi?
Few debates in soccer history spark as much passion as the comparison between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Both have conquered almost every competition available, yet even the greatest players know the sting of defeat. Looking at the finals they lost throughout their careers offers an insightful way to measure their resilience, careers, and ability to bounce back from setbacks.
Cristiano Ronaldo comes into this moment having lost yet another final with Al‑Nassr – his third consecutive disappointment in a championship decider with the Saudi side. The most recent defeat came in the 2025 Saudi Super Cup Final, where Al‑Nassr fell to Al‑Ahli in a 5–3 penalty shootout after a 2–2 draw in regulation time.
Cristiano Ronaldo has played in more than 30 major finals across his career with Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, Al-Nassr, and Portugal. While he has lifted an impressive number of trophies, he has also experienced defeat on some painful occasions.
One of his earliest final losses came in 2004 with Portugal, when a young Ronaldo broke down in tears after the shocking Euro 2004 defeat to Greece on home soil. With Manchester United, he lost the 2005 FA Cup Final to Arsenal on penalties, and later the 2009 Champions League Final against Barcelona. At Real Madrid, though his trophy cabinet grew enormously, he still endured disappointment in the 2013 Copa del Rey Final, where his team fell to Atlético Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu.
During his time at Juventus, Ronaldo was expected to dominate Italian soccer, but he lost multiple finals, including the 2019 Coppa Italia against Lazio and the 2021 Coppa Italia against Atalanta. Internationally, aside from Euro 2004, another notable missed opportunity came in the Confederations Cup 2017, where Portugal lost to Chile on penalties in the semifinal before finishing third — a stage just shy of the final.
In total, Ronaldo has lost around 12 major finals, a testament not just to his success in reaching them but also the cruel nature of football at the highest level.
Lionel Messi’s lost finals
Like Ronaldo, Lionel Messi has a rich history in finals, many triumphant, but also several heartbreaking. At Barcelona, he lost the 2011 Copa del Rey Final to Real Madrid, and later the 2014 Copa del Rey Final, once again to their bitter rivals. In Europe, despite Barcelona’s dominance during his prime, the club fell in the 2015 UEFA Super Cup Final against Sevilla, and more recently, Messi endured the 2020 Copa del Rey Final absence due to Barcelona’s decline before leaving for Paris.
The real heartbreak, however, came on the international stage. With Argentina, Messi famously lost three consecutive finals: the 2014 World Cup Final against Germany in extra time, the Copa América 2015 Final against Chile on penalties, and again against Chile in the Copa América 2016 Final, also on penalties. Those defeats weighed heavily on Messi, even leading him to briefly announce his retirement from the national team before returning to finally lift the Copa América in 2021.
In total, Messi has lost about 11 major finals, making his tally strikingly close to Ronaldo’s. The difference lies in the types of defeats: while Ronaldo’s often came in club competitions, Messi’s most painful memories are tied to his national team, where the pressure of Argentina’s decades-long wait for a trophy fell heavily on his shoulders.
Comparing the two legends
When comparing both superstars, the numbers are close: Cristiano Ronaldo with around 12 lost finals, and Lionel Messi with around 11. Beyond the statistics, the context tells the story. Ronaldo’s biggest heartbreak was Euro 2004 at home, while Messi’s most crushing moments came in international finals with Argentina. Yet both ultimately overcame adversity: Ronaldo with Euro 2016, the Nations League 2019 and 2025, and Messi with Copa América 2021 and the World Cup 2022.