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Assists (Opta™ criteria) given by Messi vs Ronaldo

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

PeriodLionel MessiCristiano RonaldoDifference
2002/200304-4
2003/2004013-13
2004/2005025-25
2005/2006635-29
2006/20071151-40
2007/20082759-32
2008/20094668-22
2009/20105879-21
2010/20118797-10
2011/2012121114+7
2012/2013139128+11
2013/2014155143+12
2014/2015186164+22
2015/2016213181+32
2016/2017231194+37
2017/2018252205+47
2018/2019272215+57
2019/2020298220+78
2020/2021315227+88
2021/2022331231+100
2022/2023361236+125
2023/2024379252+127
2024/2025391257+134
2025/2026391258+133

Assists type

Compiled using Opta™ data from 2009 to present, for the following competitions:

Distribution by season

PeriodLionel MessiCristiano RonaldoDifference
2002/20034-4
2003/20049-9
2004/200512-12
2005/2006610-4
2006/2007516-11
2007/2008168+8
2008/2009199+10
2009/20101211+1
2010/20112918+11
2011/20123417+17
2012/20131814+4
2013/20141615+1
2014/20153121+10
2015/20162717+10
2016/20171813+5
2017/20182111+10
2018/20192010+10
2019/2020265+21
2020/2021177+10
2021/2022164+12
2022/2023305+25
2023/20241816+2
2024/2025125+7
2025/20261-1
Totals Per game
Team Games Goals Assists Goals Assists Contrib.
FC Barcelona 778 672 269 0.86 0.35 1.21
PSG 75 32 34 0.43 0.45 0.88
Inter Miami 76 64 30 0.84 0.39 1.24
Argentina 194 114 58 0.59 0.30 0.89
Totals 1123 882 391 0.79 0.35 1.13
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi 38 years, 2 months, 30 days
Totals Per game
Team Games Goals Assists Goals Assists Contrib.
Sporting CP 31 5 4 0.16 0.13 0.29
Real Madrid 438 450 120 1.03 0.27 1.30
Juventus 134 101 20 0.75 0.15 0.90
Manchester Utd 346 145 57 0.42 0.16 0.58
Al-Nassr FC 116 103 20 0.89 0.17 1.06
Portugal 223 141 37 0.63 0.17 0.80
Totals 1288 945 258 0.73 0.20 0.93
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo 40 years, 7 months, 18 days

Last games:

Major League Soccer ·
Inter Miami vs DC United
Inter Miami 3-2 DC United
Messi, 90′
Goal Goal Assist
 
20-09-2025
Saudi Pro League ·
Al-Nassr FC vs Al Riyadh
Al-Nassr FC 5-1 Al Riyadh
C. Ronaldo, 90′
Goal Goal
 
20-09-2025