Messi, Ronaldo, Benzema: What are the greatest goalscoring duos in the 21st century? | OneFootball

It's no footballing secret that Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are arguably the two greatest goalscorers in the sport's history.

Both superstars have mastered the art unlike most other players - particularly in the modern era.

Messi and Ronaldo are still going fairly strong in the present day as well, despite the fact the former is yet to get off the mark for Paris Saint-Germain in 2021/22.

Last season, Messi netted 30 in all competitions for Barcelona, while Ronaldo managed 29 in just 33 appearances at Juventus.

For any other footballer on the planet, those figures would represent arguably their greatest ever individual campaign.

But for Messi and Ronaldo, they were actually decidedly average and to further highlight that fact, we've decided to revisit the 30 highest-scoring duos in the 21st century.

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We first looked at the list on Transfermarkt back in April and this time around, we have to make a new addition in the form of Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller, who netted 63 goals between them for Bayern Munich in 2020/21.

So, without further ado, here are the top 30, which as you probably guessed is dominated by Messi and Ronaldo...

30. Cristiano Ronaldo (42) & Alvaro Morata (20) | 62 goals

Real Madrid | 2016/17

29. Robert Lewandowski (48) & Thomas Muller (15) | 63 goals

Bayern Munich | 2020/21

28. Ruud van Nistelrooy (44) & Paul Scholes (20) | 64 goals

Manchester United | 2002/03

27. Didier Drogba (37) & Frank Lampard (27) | 64 goals

Chelsea | 2009/10

26. Cristiano Ronaldo (44) & Gareth Bale (21) | 65 goals

Real Madrid | 2017/18

25. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (41) & Edinson Cavani (25) | 66 goals

Paris Saint-Germain | 2013/14

24. Edinson Cavani (49) & Lucas Moura (19) | 68 goals

Paris Saint-Germain | 2016/17

23. Edinson Cavani (40) & Neymar (28) | 68 goals

Paris Saint-Germain | 2017/18

22. Klass-Jan Huntelaar (48) & Raul Gonzalez (21) | 69 goals

FC Schalke - 2011/12

21. Edin Dzeko (35) & Grafite (35) | 70 goals

Wolfsburg - 2008/09

20. Lionel Messi (47) & Pedro Rodriguez (23) | 70 goals

Barcelona | 2009/10

19. Mohamed Salah (44) & Roberto Firmino (27) | 71 goals

Liverpool | 2017/18

18. Lionel Messi (38) & Samuel Eto'o (36) | 74 goals

Barcelona | 2008/09

17. Robert Lewandowski (42) & Thomas Muller (32) | 74 goals

Bayern Munich | 2015/16

16. Lionel Messi (51) & Luis Suarez (23) | 74 goals

Barcelona | 2018/19

15. Cristiano Ronaldo (55) & Karim Benzema (20) | 75 goals

Real Madrid | 2012/13

14. Cristiano Ronaldo (51) & Karim Benzema (24) | 75 goals

Real Madrid | 2013/14

13. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (50) & Edinson Cavani (25) | 75 goals

Paris Saint-Germain | 2015/16

12. Lionel Messi (53) & David Villa (23) | 76 goals

Barcelona - 2010/11

11. Lionel Messi (60) & David Villa (16) | 76 goals

Barcelona | 2012/13

10. Lionel Messi (45) & Luis Suarez (31) | 76 goals

Barcelona | 2017/18

9. Robert Lewandowski (55) & Serge Gnabry (23) | 78 goals

Bayern Munich | 2019/20

8. Cristiano Ronaldo (53) & Karim Benzema (23) | 79 goals

Real Madrid | 2010/11

7. Cristiano Ronaldo (51) & Karim Benzema (28) | 79 goals

Real Madrid | 2015/16

6. Cristiano Ronaldo (61) & Karim Benzema (22) | 83 goals

Real Madrid | 2014/15

5. Lionel Messi (73) & Cesc Fabregas (15) | 88 goals

Barcelona | 2011/12

4. Lionel Messi (54) & Luis Suarez (36) | 90 goals

Barcelona | 2016/17

3. Cristiano Ronaldo (60) & Karim Benzema (32) | 92 goals

Real Madrid | 2011/12

2. Lionel Messi (58) & Neymar (39) | 97 goals

Barcelona | 2014/15

1. Luis Suarez (59) & Lionel Messi (41) | 100 goals

Barcelona | 2015/16

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Messi or Ronaldo feature in nine of the top 10 duos, while one of the global icons is present in 18 of the 30 strike partnerships overall - ridiculous, right?

We may never see footballers quite like them again.

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Cristiano Ronaldo Lionel Messi