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Assists (Opta™ criteria) given by Messi vs Ronaldo in knockout games

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
2002/2003000
2003/200403-3
2004/200506-6
2005/200608-8
2006/2007111-10
2007/2008111-10
2008/2009413-9
2009/2010613-7
2010/20111116-5
2011/20122117+4
2012/20132218+4
2013/20142621+5
2014/20153625+11
2015/20164627+19
2016/20175128+23
2017/20185830+28
2018/20196430+34
2019/20206530+35
2020/20216931+38
2021/20227132+39
2022/20237532+43
2023/20247833+45
2024/20257834+44
2025/20267835+43

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 688 26/260 10% 8/260 3.08% 90/260 34.62% 15/260 5.77% 138/260 53.08%
Cristiano Ronaldo 640 15/148 10.14% 0/148 0% 17/148 11.49% 2/148 1.35% 116/148 78.38%

Source: Opta™ Sports – Last update: 02/10/2025

Distribution by season

PeriodLionel MessiCristiano RonaldoDifference
2002/20030
2003/20043-3
2004/20053-3
2005/20062-2
2006/200713-2
2007/20080
2008/200932+1
2009/20102+2
2010/201153+2
2011/2012101+9
2012/2013110
2013/201443+1
2014/2015104+6
2015/2016102+8
2016/201751+4
2017/201872+5
2018/20196+6
2019/20201+1
2020/202141+3
2021/202221+1
2022/20234+4
2023/202431+2
2024/20251-1
2025/20261-1
Totals Per game
Team Games Goals Assists Goals Assists Contrib.
FC Barcelona 182 127 53 0.70 0.29 0.99
PSG 7 1 0 0.14 0.00 0.14
Inter Miami 22 17 5 0.77 0.23 1.00
Argentina 32 11 20 0.34 0.63 0.97
Totals 243 156 78 0.64 0.32 0.96
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi 38 years, 3 months, 11 days
Totals Per game
Team Games Goals Assists Goals Assists Contrib.
Sporting CP 6 2 0 0.33 0.00 0.33
Real Madrid 97 84 16 0.87 0.16 1.03
Juventus 21 13 1 0.62 0.05 0.67
Manchester Utd 70 29 12 0.41 0.17 0.59
Al-Nassr FC 24 15 3 0.63 0.13 0.75
Portugal 34 15 3 0.44 0.09 0.53
Totals 252 158 35 0.63 0.14 0.77
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo 40 years, 8 months, 0 days

Last games:

Leagues Cup · Final
Seattle Sounders FC vs Inter Miami
Seattle Sounders FC 3-0 Inter Miami
 
Messi, 90′
 
31-08-2025
Saudi Super Cup · Final
Al-Ahli Saudi vs Al-Nassr FC
Al-Ahli Saudi 2-2 Al-Nassr FC
 
C. Ronaldo, 90′
Penalty goal
Penalty shootout
5-3
 
C. Ronaldo
23-08-2025