Lionel Messi is on the brink of breaking another record in his impressive soccer career, but Christiano Ronaldo is close behind in pursuit of the same mark.

According to BBC News, Messi scored both of Barcelona's two goals in their 2-0 win over Ajax to draw even with Raul for the most goals scored in the Champions League (CL). Messi's 70th and 71st goals also put him one ahead of Ronaldo.

Perhaps most impressive is that Messi has leveled Raul's record in 90 games, 52 games fewer than the latter played in and 17 fewer than Ronaldo.

"Messi is without doubt the best player I've seen as a player and a coach," Barcalona manager Luis Enrique told BBC News.

Barcelona maintained control of the ball for 61 percent of the match against Ajax and they also outshot their opponents 14-7. The match report lists Messi's first goal at the 36th minute, when he put a light header into an vacated goal on an assist from Marc Batra. Messi struck again in the 42nd minute on a breakaway give-and-go with teammate Pedro.

Messi will have the opportunity to break Raul's record on Tuesday, Nov. 25 against APOEL Nicosia. Depending of course if Messi scores (or if he scores), Ronaldo will have his shot at breaking the record on Wednesday, Nov. 26 against Basel.

At 27, Messi is two years younger than Ronaldo, though his career numbers are comparable, if not better. Still, the two are unavoidably linked as two of the best footballers in the world, especially since they play on opposite teams in one of the most storied sport rivalries.

Messi is a three time winner of the FIFA Ballon d'Or ("Golden Ball"), from 2010 to 2012, an honor he also won in 2009, when the award was given to Europe's best player. Ronaldo was the 2008 and 2013 winner, meaning he and Messi have controlled the award for the past six years.