They are the two giants of the game – but when it comes to PES, does Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi have the edge?
YouTuber Rich Leigh decided to find out and create two teams – one with 11 Ronaldo’s, the other, 11 Messi’s.
He then simmed the match using the game’s AI to see who comes out on top.
Bear in mind that Messi actually has a higher rating than Ronaldo in Konami’s game, so that may give his side the edge.
Anyway, on to the match.
The game kicks off and it takes just five minutes for Messi to score for his team – a cool finish from a perfectly weighted lofted cross. 1-0.
It takes just seven more minutes for Team Messi to score again – blasting the ball into the right hand corner, past a diving Ronaldo in goal.
(Note to anyone thinking of playing Ronaldo in goal… don’t do it).
This could get embarrassing for the Portuguese star – as Messi and co. hammer home yet another goal 28 minutes in.
At the end of the half, it’s been all Messi, who dominates with 52 per cent of the possession.
Ronaldo has had more shots – but just four of the eight have been on target.
Messi, meanwhile, has slotted home all three of his chances – talk about clinical finishing.
Maybe Ronaldo can turn it around in the second half?
Things certainly seem that way as he heads home a decent cross a few minutes after the restart.
Messi can only watch in goal as the Portuguese picks the ball out of the net and sprints towards half way. Game on.
The Argentinian hits back though, capitalising off a loose save from Ronaldo to make it 4-1.
Surely the game is out of sight for the Portuguese?
Nope – just minutes later, Ronnie hits back, chesting the ball down from a perfect lofted ball before drilling it past Messi. 4-2.
Another goal swiftly follows, taking the score to 4-3 – as Team Messi begins to tire.
Then, in the 81st minute, Ronaldo capitalises on a brilliant Ronaldo corner to bring the scores level.
With 88 minutes on the clock, and the Argentinians looking shattered, Ronaldo takes his chance.
He steals the ball off a weak Messi before delivering a brilliant lobbed through ball over the top of the opposition defence.
With just the keeper to beat, Ronaldo lines up and shoots – sending the ball rocketing past Messi (who’s also utterly awful in goal) to win the game 5-4.
What. A. Comeback.
So, there you have it.
A team of Ronaldo’s really is better than a team of Messi’s – according to PES, anyway.
NOW WATCH THE FULL MATCH BELOW.