Each and every single global league has its share of derby clashes, and La Liga is certainly no different. El Clasico, contested at least twice a season between two of the world's biggest clubs, Barcelona and Real Madrid is something that La Liga fans have been eagerly marking on their calendars for decades. And now, with the emergence of superstars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, quite a few supporters of these two top players have become so narrowly and amusingly obsessed with the rivalry that for them it's more like a Messi vs. CR7 match than an overall exciting clash between Barcelona and Real Madrid featuring some of the best players on the planet.
In any case, fans of the two, long-term Real and Barcelona supporters, and some general football followers looking for a great game will all be looking forward to the latest edition of El Clasico which will take place this Saturday, November 21st.
Lionel Messi vs. Cristiano Ronaldo: The origins
Officially though, the first time really Messi and CR7 faced off was not during an El Clasico match, but rather during the semi-finals of the 2007/2008 Champions League, when the Portuguese attacker plied his trade for Manchester United. They would meet yet again during the 2009 Champions League final, contested in Rome, which would finish as a 2-0 win for the Blaugrana and represented the last European game Cristiano would play for the Red Devils prior to his big-money move to Real Madrid later that summer.
The first El Clasico meetings: A difficult settling in period for Cristiano Ronaldo
The first El Clasico meeting for Messi and CR7 took place on November 29, 2009, which finished as a 1-0 win in favor of Barcelona. However, neither the Argentinian nor Portuguese internationals were on the score-sheet, as the match was decided by Swedish superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic's second half goal.
Cristiano and Messi would meet again later that spring, on April 10, 2010. This time, Messi was able to find the back of the net and then-teammate Pedro's 55th minute goal was enough to give Barcelona all three points at the expense of Real Madrid. As for Cristiano, the the Spanish press were quick to slam the former Real Madrid man's subdued performance. Even MARCA, a pro-Madrid newspaper, produced a headline titled "Too much Messi for CR9", and he was even booed by some of Real Madrid's notoriously demanding and fickle fans who questioned his massive signing fee (a shock indeed given that he is now their club's all-time top goal-scorer).
2010-2011: A quintet of Clasico match-ups for Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi
Still, if the first two El Clasicos were tough for him, the third was one the Real Madrid ace will surely forget in a hurry. Under Jose Mourinho, Real were absolutely humiliated by a rampant Barcelon at the Camp Nou. Exactly one year later, on November 29, 2010, Pep Guardiola's side routed their La Liga rivals 5-0 and whilst Messi did not score, it was the worst defeat suffered by Mourinho as no side had ever been able to put five goals past any of his teams sans reply.
Frustration: The 5-0 loss for Real Madrid saw a whopping 12 yellows - including one for C. Ronaldo and Messi - and a straight red card
Well, fortunately for Real Madrid - and more important, Cristiano Ronaldo fans - things would improve both for the star player and the team in subsequent Clasico meetings. The next meeting took place on April 16, 2011 in which both stars played - no pun intended - a starring role. It was a match of penalties as Messi struck first only for CR7 to equalize in the second half.
Cristiano's shining moment, however, came during the 2011 Copa Del Rey final, in which he scored the game's only goal after the match had gone to extra time. It was also the first trophy of Mourinho's tenure at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Fans of both teams were also treated to these two Spanish giants locking horns in the Champions League. To date, the final many have hoped will happen has yet to occur, but the closest they have come with both Messi and CR7 in their ranks was the 2010/2011 semi-finals. The first leg was all about Messi, who netted a second half brace in a performance that fans will remember for a long time. Both Barcelona and Real Madrid had a man sent off, and in the second leg, Cristiano was again frustrated as despite drawing, Real crashed out 3-1 on aggregate.
Barcelona would go on to lift the 2011 UEFA Champions League crown after defeating Manchester United 3-1.
Messi with his second UCL title in 2011 after Barcelona powered past Real Madrid in the semi-finals
2011-2013: Domination of the most coveted individual prize - the Ballon d'Or
During the 2011/2012 season, Barcelona and Real Madrid faced off for their customary two league clashes. The first, played on December 10, 2011 finished as a 3-1 win in favor of the Blaugrana, although neither Messi nor CR7 scored. The second, played on April 21, 2012 not only saw Cristiano score (the winning goal, much to the glee of his legions of followers) but also gave Real Madrid all three points against Barcelona in league play for the first time since May 7, 2008.
There were other meetings - in the August 2011 Spanish Super Cup and then the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey. In these four games, both stars scored three goals but both trophies ended up with Barcelona as the Blaugrana defeated Real 5-4 on aggregate for the Spanish Super Cup and 4-3 in the Copa del Rey.
In the 2012/2013 campaign the opening Clasico league match finished as a 2-2 result, with a brace each for Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. The reverse fixture in March 2013 was another win for Real Madrid, albeit no goals for CR7 and one for Messi. As such, the "score-line" between these two top players read as Messi (3) vs. CR7 (2). The Portuguese attacker, however, would redeem himself again in the Copa del Rey during the semi-finals by scoring a brace in the second leg.
For Messi on a personal level, 2012 was a year to remember as he finished the calendar year with a whopping 91 goals for Argentina and Barcelona - breaking the long-standing record of 85 set by legendary German striker Gerd Muller.
Ever since CR7 won the Ballon d'Or in 2008, there has also been a battle between him and Messi as to who will win the coveted prize. During this time, from 2011-2013, Messi won it twice, making it four straight back to 2009 whereas Cristiano finally broke that hold by winning the 2013 and then the latest 2014 editions.
2013-2015: Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo - Champions of Europe
The 2013/2014 season will be one to remember for Real Madrid fans, as it was during this time that they finally won that long-awaited 10th Champions League title. No team has ever achieved this feat. Meanwhile, a year later, it would the Blaugrana's turn to celebrate being champions of Europe after defeating Juventus 3-1 to lift their fifth Champions League trophy. Even more impressive is the fact that they now have won three of those within the last seven campaigns.
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrating Real Madrid's 10th UCL trophy win in 2014...
...and Messi celebrating Barcelona's 5th (and 3rd in 7 seasons) this past May
To sum things up, in terms of Clasico meetings during this period, here is how the two stars compare:
- October 26, 2013 (La Liga): Barcelona 2-1 Real Madrid. No goals for Messi or CR7.
- March 23, 2014 (La Liga): Real Madrid 3-4 Barcelona. Hat-trick for Messi, whilst CR7 netted once.
- April 16, 2014 (Copa del Rey final): Real Madrid 2-1 Barcelona. Neither Messi nor CR7 scored.
- October 25, 2014 (La Liga): Real Madrid 3-1 Barcelona. CR7 opened the scoring to equalize; RM went on to win the match.
- March 22, 2015 (La Liga): Barcelona 2-1 Real Madrid. CR7 scored the only goal for his side in their loss.
And all in all, since their first Clasico meeting on November 29, 2009:
Lionel Messi vs. Real Madrid
- La Liga: 8 goals
- Copa del Rey: 0 goals
- UEFA Champions League: 2 goals
- Spanish Super Cup: 5 goals
Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Barcelona
- La Liga: 7 goals
- Copa del Rey: 5 goals
- UEFA Champions League: 0 goals
- Spanish Super Cup: 3 goals
Which superstar will be left with plenty to smile about as the no. 2 and no. 1 teams in La Liga face off this Saturday?
Who will win #ElClásico on Nov 21, 2015 in Madrid? @realmadrid VS @FCBarcelona. Info: https://t.co/qwmjOkPwQG
— LiveSoccerTV.com (@LiveSoccerTV) November 17, 2015 
