Messi is individually the superior footballer in most respects. Ronaldo is a fantastic finisher, Messi is everything else. (both are generous team mates)
If you want to argue who deserves arbitrary individual awards, or has had more success at club level or international level, feel free to continue.
In regards to trophies though, the teams around these two plays a major role on their ability to shine.
Barcelona have in essence failed in replacing Xavi and Dani Alves, this has resulted in a more defensive, more compact team which pushes the creative responsibilities to Messi. He is tasked with both starting moves and finishing them, while on the other hand Madrid have spent wisely and with Casemiro, Kroos and Modric have created a pseudo Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets midfield who are much more capable of supporting and creating the chances for their focal point than Barcelona. Wing play, Crosses and general chaos in the box is what Ronaldo thrives off of, and Madrid give that to him.
Internationally,
Eder scores, Higuain misses and somehow they both are responsible for both results. It is just how football fans operate, their memories last a week and its just they way things are.
Memes and social media perpetuate animosity between fans and it becomes trench warfare to defend one or the other, we are lucky to witness two footballers dominate for as long as they both have, yet for me personally Messi has been the best to ever do it. Everyone else occupies a tier below him, some people just seem to have difficulty grasping that reality. People who have spent anytime trying to play the game of football would absolutely be kidding themselves if they thought it is easier to replicate the things Messi does week in week out than Ronaldo over the past decade.
