Ex-players from Arsenal, Barcelona, and Chelsea lead the list of 10 individuals who have secured the highest number of victories versus Cristiano Ronaldo .
It is beyond question that CR7 stands amongst the elite players in history; however, these particular 10 athletes appear to relish facing him.
After examining Ronaldo's career closely, these are the 10 players who have secured the most victories against him across both club and international matches.
=8. Pedro – 11 victories
In the 2009 Champions League final, Pedro made his debut against Ronaldo when he replaced Andres Iniesta as a late substitution.
Following his victory in that specific match, Pedro secured an additional ten victories against Ronaldo—most of which occurred during El Clasico encounters.
Their most recent encounter took place in September 2020, with the match ending in a 2-2 tie between Roma and Juventus.
=8. Cesc Fabregas – 11 victories
In the 2005 FA Cup final against Manchester United, Fabregas secured his first victory over Ronaldo.
Throughout his career, Ronaldo went up against the Spanish midfielder in 24 matches, though he was victorious in just seven of them.
=8. Koke – 11 victories
Given that Ronaldo succeeded in defeating Koke in two UEFA Champions League final matches, he likely won't worry much about the 11 encounters where he didn't come out victorious against the Spanish player.
Currently 33 years old, the midfield player remains a force to be reckoned with at Atletico Madrid and is approaching his 700th appearance for the team.
7. Antoine Griezmann – 12 victories
Fairly enough for Ronaldo, he managed to defeat Griezmann 13 times himself—including the Euro 2016 final.
Nevertheless, the Frenchman has emerged victorious against his Portuguese rival many times. In fact, their most recent encounter saw France eliminate Portugal from Euro 2024 via penalty shootout.
Considering Griezmann has decided to retire from international football, it appears improbable that the two will face each other on opposing teams anymore.
6. Dani Alves – 13 victories
The Brazilian defender relished many intense showdowns against Ronaldo in El Clasico and usually emerged victorious.
In 30 matches against CR7, Alves emerged victorious in 13, secured draws in seven, and suffered defeats in 10. This stands as a rather commendable performance history.
5. Xavi – 14 victories
Over the course of his career, Ronaldo faced Xavi in 28 matches yet managed to secure victory in just seven of those encounters.
On the contrary, Xavi had impressive stats against CR7, scoring an average of 1.75 points per game in their encounters.
Given such a history, It’s no surprise that Ronaldo was at odds with the Spanish midfielder in 2015.
=3. Andres Iniesta – 16 victories
In the 2007-08 UEFA Champions League semi-finals, Ronaldo outperformed Iniesta, yet Iniesta quickly returned the favor by defeating him in the 2009 final.
Altogether, they faced off in 36 matches, with Iniesta winning approximately 44.4% of these encounters. On the other hand, Ronaldo emerged victorious over Iniesta in 10 instances.
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=3. Lionel Messi – 16 victories
The rivalry between Messi and Ronaldo supporters continues unabated, yet in terms of direct confrontations, the Argentine has the upper hand.
In 36 matches versus Ronaldo, Messi managed to score 22 goals along with contributing 12 assists. In contrast, Ronaldo netted 21 goals but registered just one assist during those encounters.
The Argentine magician has a 44.4% victory rate against Ronaldo, while Ronaldo has won only 30.5% of the matches against Messi.
Nevertheless, the previous encounter between them in an official game saw Ronaldo being outdone, with Juventus defeating Barcelona 3-0, courtesy of two goals from CR7.
READ: 6 Instances When Cristiano Ronaldo Made It Clear That Lionel Messi Dominates His Thoughts
2. Gerard Pique – 17 victories
Ronaldo previously shared a dressing room with Pique at Manchester United, however, they developed into intense adversaries following Pique’s move to Barcelona.
Statistically, Pique has a superior track record against Ronaldo compared to everyone else mentioned here. When they faced each other in matches, Ronaldo’s average score was just 0.97 points per game, which happens to be his lowest against anybody listed here.
1. Sergio Busquets – 18 victories
Ronaldo has encountered Busquets in 38 different matches, which is more than any other individual player he has faced.
Out of these 38 encounters, Busquets succeeded in winning 18 times, drawing 11, and losing only nine. This indeed represents an impressive track record.
Actually, out of their past 12 direct confrontations, Ronaldo has won just one game against his opponent from Inter Miami. This must be incredibly frustrating for him whenever they face off.
