Lionel Messi v Cristiano Ronaldo: 5 games between the two GOATs of soccer

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have been the top two players in world soccer for the past decade. They have faced each other on many occasions and here are five of the standout encounters picked by Planet Sport.

Real Madrid 3-4 Barcelona (La Liga) March 23, 2014

The two sides went into this encounter in contrasting fortunes. Barca had lost two of their preceding four La Liga encounters, while Real had not been beaten in 31 games in all competitions. 
Andres Iniesta gave the Catalans a seventh-minute lead courtesy of Messi's pinpoint pass but Karim Benzema's brace allowed the hosts to hit the front. It was then over to Messi, who made it 2-2 at half time with a neat finish after a trademark cut back inside. 
Los Blancos were ahead 10 minutes after the interval as Ronaldo got in on the act, converting a controversial penalty after it appeared he had been tripped outside the area. Messi then proved that anything his rival could do, he could do as well, if not better.   
Sergio Ramos was shown a straight red card for fouling Neymar, allowing the Argentine superstar to equalize from 12 yards. Iniesta was then sandwiched by Xabi Alonso and Dani Carvajal, with the referee having no hesitation in pointing to the spot for a third time. 
Messi again made no mistake, with the 84th-minute spot kick bringing the curtain down on the scoring in a scintillating encounter. It completed back-to-back hat-tricks for the South American who became the all-time top scorer in Clasicos with 21 goals, surpassing Real legend Alfredo Di Stefano.
He has, of course, added many more to that tally since. 

Real Madrid 2-3 Barcelona (La Liga) April 23, 2017

This was a pivotal match between the Spanish giants and it was Barca who came out on top thanks to Messi's brilliance. He scored twice to bring his side level on 75 points with Real, but they went top due to a vastly superior goal differential.
Casemiro had given Real a 28th-minute lead but five minutes later Messi was on target courtesy of a superb jinking run and finish. It remained 1-1 at half time but the visitors took the lead through Ivan Rakitic in the 73rd minute.
With legs tiring, James Rodriguez thought he had rescued a point for the capital club with an 85th-minute strike, but Messi had other ideas. The winner came two minutes into stoppage time, with Messi's unstoppable strike from outside the area sparking an emotional celebration from the forward.
He had been hacked down on a number of occasions during the match and also received an elbow to the face from Marcelo that drew blood, and so he made sure the Real fans knew who he was by pointing to his name on the back of his jersey.
It is unlikely, though, that any of the thousands in white inside the Bernabeu did not already have an inkling who he was!

Barcelona 1-3 Real Madrid (Copa del Rey) February 26, 2013

It has not been all one way in matches between these two stars and Ronaldo bossed this cup encounter. The first leg of the semifinal ended 1-1 at the Bernabeu and so Real had it all to do at the Nou Camp.
The Portugal skipper was immense throughout and put his side a goal to the good with a 13th-minute penalty after he had been fouled by Gerard Pique.
It remained 1-0 at half time but, with the home fans becoming restless, Ronaldo added another in the 57th minute to all but end the tie as a contest. Jose Pinto saved Angel Di Maria's shot and the ball fell for Ronaldo to chest down and slot home from close range.
Raphael Varane added a third to make it 4-1 on aggregate, prompting Real manager Jose Mourinho to put his finger to his lips and 'silence' the Barca fans. In truth, there were not many left in the stadium to see Jordi Alba grab a consolation a minute from time.
Ronaldo had scored twice, but it was his overall contribution that made the difference, with Messi forced to play a rare bit-part role.

Barcelona 2-2 Real Madrid (La Liga) October 7, 2012

Barca went into this Clasico with a 100 per cent record in the league. That came to an end as the two giants of the game traded blows throughout. In front of nearly 100,000 fans, Ronaldo gave his side the lead in the 23rd minute, firing home from a tight angle to silence the home supporters.
Karim Benzema hit the post two minutes later, but Messi soon put a smile on the face of his adoring public.
Pedro's cross from the right fell invitingly for the Argentina ace who smashed home from six yards. His second came on the hour mark, with a trademark 25-yard free kick proving too hot for Iker Casillas. 
Not to be outdone, Ronaldo made sure the visitors returned to Madrid with a point as he beat the offside trap to score yet another important goal for his club. 

Real Madrid 2-1 Barcelona (Supercopa de Espana) August 29, 2012 

This curtain raiser may seem little more than an exhibition on paper but not when these two rivals meet. Barca had won the first leg on home soil 3-2, with Messi notching one of his side's goals and Ronaldo finding the net for Los Blancos.
But it was the home side who triumphed in the return leg, lifting the cup on the away goals rule after the tie had ended 4-4.
All three goals came in the first half, with Gonzalo Higuain giving Real an 11th-minute lead. Ronaldo capitalized on a defensive error to make it 2-0, meaning Barcelona had to chase the game. He cheekily back-heeled the ball over center back Pique and bided his time before powering a shot home.
Messi stepped up to smash home a sumptuous free kick from fully 35 yards out to give his side hope - but they could not find another.
It may not have been a La Liga encounter or a Champions League showdown but the joy on the Real players' faces at full time proved just what it meant.

By Neil Foster