• Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami after leaving Paris Saint Germain over the summer
• The Argentine’s contract at Paris Saint-Germain expired at the end of June
• According to the latest stats, Messi left Europe having just edged Cristiano Ronaldo in the goals department in Europe’s top five leagues

Lionel Messi leaves European football having gotten an edge over Cristiano Ronaldo in terms of goals scored across Europe’s top five leagues.

The Argentine, 36, joined Inter Miami in the Major League Soccer (MLS), bringing an end to a 19-year stint in European football.

Messi’s departure from Europe all but confirms the end of an era, as it comes six months after his long-term rival Cristiano Ronaldo departed Manchester United for Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr.

The two players have shared the European stage for more than 13 years, and have 12 Ballon d’Ors between them- a feat that will likely never be achieved again in this lifetime.

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But now that both Ronaldo and Messi will be banging in the goals in clubs outside Europe, where does that leave their rivalry in terms of strikes in the most lucrative leagues in the world?

Messi edges Ronaldo

The answer to that question is an interesting one, as Messi only recently edged Ronaldo in the total number of goals scored in Europe’s top five leagues.

The Barcelona legend took his tally to 496 goals after his strike against Ligue 1 outfit Strasbourg on Saturday, May 17, going one ahead of Ronaldo, who has 495 goals collectively for all the clubs he played for in Europe.

Here is a further breakdown of the stats:

Whether it is a coincidence that Messi leaves Europe after just edging Ronaldo in the goals department, we will never know. However, CR7 still reigns supreme in the Champions League all-time goal-scorers list, with 140 goals. Messi comes in second with 129, according to UEFA.com.

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Inter Miami star on Messi

Sports Brief also reported on Inter Miami goalkeeper Nick Marsman’s brutally honest take on Lionel Messi’s imminent arrival at the club.

Marsman admitted that the club is not necessarily prepared for the arrival of the 35-year-old superstar for several reasons.

The club uses the DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale which is fairly small, and facilities like security are not necessarily top-notch, as they wait on an upcoming $1 billion mega-stadium.

Ronaldo sets another Al Nassr record

Sports Brief also reported on how Cristiano Ronaldo set another record at Al-Nassr in another brilliant performance for the Saudi side.

Ronaldo’s impressive form, which has brought Luis Castro’s side back into title contention after their slow start to the season, recently saw him crowned August’s ‘Player of the Month’ in the Saudi top flight.

The Portuguese captain, who was instrumental as his side wrapped up an emphatic win away at Al-Hazem, set an unprecedented record with his goal in the 68th minute of the game.

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After scoring for the Knights of Najd, the iconic number seven became the first men’s player in football history to reach the 850-goal mark in professional football.