Assists (Opta™ criteria) given by Messi vs Ronaldo in club competitions
Opta stands out as the most reliable statistics hub and serves as the de facto ‘official’ statistics provider in football. They furnish data to esteemed platforms such as the BBC, the Premier League, WhoScored, Squawka, and numerous other prominent media outlets.
Below is Opta’s interpretation of an assist:
The final touch (pass, pass-cum-shot or any other touch) leading to the recipient of the ball scoring a goal. If the final touch is deflected by an opposition player, the initiator is only given a goal assist if the receiving player was likely to receive the ball without the deflection having taken place. Own goals, directly taken free kicks, direct corner goals and penalties do not get an assist awarded.
Cumulative distribution
Period
Lionel Messi
Cristiano Ronaldo
Difference
2002/2003
0
4
-4
2003/2004
0
10
-10
2004/2005
0
18
-18
2005/2006
3
26
-23
2006/2007
6
40
-34
2007/2008
19
47
-28
2008/2009
36
56
-20
2009/2010
47
64
-17
2010/2011
70
80
-10
2011/2012
100
95
+5
2012/2013
115
107
+8
2013/2014
129
121
+8
2014/2015
156
142
+14
2015/2016
179
157
+22
2016/2017
195
168
+27
2017/2018
213
176
+37
2018/2019
232
186
+46
2019/2020
257
191
+66
2020/2021
269
196
+73
2021/2022
283
199
+84
2022/2023
308
203
+105
2023/2024
321
216
+105
2024/2025
339
220
+119
2025/2026
339
222
+117
Assists type
Compiled using Opta™ data from 2009 to present, for the following competitions:
Copa América, FIFA World Cup, FIFA World Cup Qualifier, La Liga, Ligue 1, MLS, Premier League, Serie A, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Euro, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Nations League
