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Assists (Opta™ criteria) given by Messi and Ronaldo in finals by season

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
2003/2004000
2004/2005000
2005/2006000
2006/2007000
2007/2008000
2008/2009110
2009/201021+1
2010/201121+1
2011/201251+4
2012/201351+4
2013/201452+3
2014/201552+3
2015/201672+5
2016/2017102+8
2017/2018122+10
2018/2019132+11
2019/2020132+11
2020/2021132+11
2021/2022152+13
2022/2023152+13
2023/2024152+13
2024/2025152+13

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, Major League Soccer, Premier League, Serie A, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Euro, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Nations League
Player Games Cross Corner Throughball Free kick Others
Leo Messi 665 25/251 9.96% 8/251 3.19% 85/251 33.86% 15/251 5.98% 135/251 53.78%
Cristiano Ronaldo 636 15/148 10.14% 0/148 0% 17/148 11.49% 2/148 1.35% 116/148 78.38%

Source: Opta™ Sports – Last update: 30/04/2025

Distribution by season

PeriodLionel MessiCristiano RonaldoDifference
2003/20040
2004/20050
2005/20060
2006/20070
2007/20080
2008/2009110
2009/20101+1
2010/20110
2011/20123+3
2012/20130
2013/20141-1
2014/20150
2015/20162+2
2016/20173+3
2017/20182+2
2018/20191+1
2019/20200
2020/20210
2021/20222+2
2022/20230
2023/20240
2024/20250