By David Salazar (staff@latinospost.com) | First Posted: Jan 21, 2013 06:21 PM EST

Who is better, Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi? The two greatest living soccer players not only compete in the same league but for rival squads.

As Latinos Post compares both players, let us look at what the two superstars accomplished during the 20th week of La Liga and like this attempt to determine who displayed better performance.

Messi: "La Pulga" played as well as he usually does this past week. He scored one goal in each of Barcelona's matches, but unfortunately, the results were not the same as usual. In the first match against Malaga in the Copa del Rey, Messi scored a tying goal in the 29th minute, but his team tied 2-2 in that match. In the second match against Real Sociedad, he scored seven minutes in to give Barcelona a 1-0 lead. However, the team wound up losing. Messi now has four goals in 2013, but has unable to win this week.

Ronaldo:  The Portuguese star had a solid week. He did not score in Madrid's first win over Valencia in the Copa del Rey, but he was an unbeatable presence in the second tilt on Sunday. In that match Ronaldo scored two goals and assisted on another as Real Madrid won 5-0.

Stats through Week 18

Messi: 29 goals, 8 assists (5 goals, 2 assists in UCL; 2 goals in Spanish Super Cup; 3 goals in the Copa Del Rey)

Ronaldo: 18 goals, 4 assists (6 goals in UCL, 1 assist; 2 goals in Spanish Super Cup; 4 goals in the Copa Del Rey)

Goals in 2013

Messi: 4

Ronaldo: 7

Edge:  Both scored two goals this week, but one player won both matches and the other did not. Surprisingly that player is Ronaldo and he has a clear edge this week.

Messi Leads 11-9 for the 2012-13 season.

Ronaldo has a 3-0 edge in 2013.

During week 5, both players earned a point for equally strong weeks. During week 10, neither earned a point for forgettable weeks.