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Fans have reacted on X after Al-Nassr ace Cristiano Ronaldo failed to extend his hat-trick record, which is currently held by Lionel Messi. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner finished the year without netting a hat-trick for club or country for the first time since 2010.
Lionel Messi currently holds the record of scoring at least one hat-trick in 17 straight calendar years, between 2009 and 2025. The Argentine superstar was able to garner one hat-trick in 2025, during Inter Miami's 5-2 win over Nashville in the MLS on October 18.
On the other hand, Cristiano Ronaldo had an impressive 15-year streak of his own, having scored a minimum of one hat-trick per year between 2010 and 2024. Despite coming close with a disallowed goal this season, Ronaldo failed to extend this record following Al-Nassr's recent 2-2 draw against Al-Ettifaq (December 30).
Fans reacted on social media, with one hailing Messi as the GOAT for having the longest active streak:
"And Messi isn't even a striker. 🐐 for a reason"@johnnycortes And Messi isn't even a striker💀 🐐 for a reason
Another fan tweeted:
"Ronaldo has lost his credibility"@johnnycortes Ronaldo has lost his credibility 😂
Other fans reacted below:
@johnnycortes We owned him
@johnnycortes Messi could stop scoring yesterday and he'd still be better than Ronaldo, Ronaldo has more goals but Messi by far better player all around. All the time
@MessiFCWorld To think that the brace-man doesn’t chase hatricks but always gets them when the other simple just failed to get one in 2025
@centregoals That's a low for him but generally, he did well for his age
@centregoals This is actually insane
Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi: Taking a look at how both superstars fared in 2025
Despite being in the twilight years of their careers, both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi flourished in 2025, showcasing why they are two of the greatest superstars of all time. Let's take a look at the numbers to see how they both fared last year:
Ronaldo netted 19 goals and provided one assist in 22 appearances across competitions in the first half of the year last season. The 40-year-old has started this season strong as well, scoring 13 goals and providing three assists in 14 appearances in total. He has also fared well for the national team, netting eight goals in nine appearances, helping Portugal win the 2025 Nations League.
Meanwhile, Messi was excellent for Inter Miami last season, recording 43 goals and 26 assists in 49 appearances across competitions, guiding the Herons to their first-ever MLS title win. He also garnered three goals and three assists in five appearances for the Argentina national team.
Cristiano Ronaldo's overall 2025 stats: 40 goals and four assists in 45 appearances
Lionel Messi's overall 2025 stats: 46 goals and 29 assists in 54 appearances
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Edited by Silas Sud
English (US)