Messi, Ronaldo & Mbappé: The Harshest Defeats of Their Careers

Even the world’s greatest footballers have faced crushing defeats. Here’s a look at the most significant low points in the careers of soccer’s biggest names:

🐐 Lionel Messi

Messi’s heaviest defeat came in the 2020 Champions League quarter-final, when Barcelona were dismantled 8–2 by Bayern Munich in Lisbon—a result he later called his “rock bottom” at Barça.

Most recently, his Inter Miami side suffered a 4–0 loss to PSG in the 2025 Club World Cup—his largest defeat in a decade.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo’s career has also weathered stinging losses. His most notorious was a 5–0 Champions League defeat—either with Real Madrid versus Barcelona or another powerhouse—which remains one of his career’s biggest setbacks .

Kylian Mbappé

Mbappé’s toughest moment came as a Real Madrid player, facing a 4–0 defeat to PSG in the 2025 Club World Cup semi-final—now one of the most humiliating losses of his young career.

He’s also experienced heavy domestic defeats, including 5–1 to Lille in Ligue 1 with PSG and a 4–0 Clasico loss to Barcelona during his time at Madrid.

What This Reveals

Even legends face tough days:

• Blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moments like Messi’s 8–2 defeat show how form, tactics, and morale can collapse instantly.
• Ronaldo’s big losses highlight that even elite levels don’t grant immunity from collective failure.
• Mbappé’s defeats—especially one with his former club—underscore the unpredictability of big-match pressure.

These matches don’t define careers—but they often fuel comebacks, resilience, and growth.

Greatness isn’t about perfection—it’s about response. These defeats are reminders that even the best stumbles pave the way to legendary comebacks.