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Assists (Opta™ criteria) given by Messi vs Ronaldo in national leagues

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
2003/200408-8
2004/2005012-12
2005/2006218-16
2006/2007426-22
2007/20081632-16
2008/20092738-11
2009/20103745-8
2010/20115556-1
2011/20127168+3
2012/20138378+5
2013/20149487+7
2014/2015112103+9
2015/2016128114+14
2016/2017137120+17
2017/2018149125+24
2018/2019162133+29
2019/2020183138+45
2020/2021192141+51
2021/2022206144+62
2022/2023224146+78
2023/2024235157+78
2024/2025251160+91
2025/2026251161+90

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
2002/20034-4
2003/20044-4
2004/20054-4
2005/200626-4
2006/200728-6
2007/2008126+6
2008/2009116+5
2009/2010107+3
2010/20111811+7
2011/20121612+4
2012/20131210+2
2013/2014119+2
2014/20151816+2
2015/20161611+5
2016/201796+3
2017/2018125+7
2018/2019138+5
2019/2020215+16
2020/202193+6
2021/2022143+11
2022/2023182+16
2023/202411110
2024/2025163+13
2025/20261-1
Totals Per game
Team Games Goals Assists Goals Assists Contrib.
FC Barcelona 520 474 192 0.91 0.37 1.28
PSG 58 22 30 0.38 0.52 0.90
Inter Miami 56 51 29 0.91 0.52 1.43
Totals 634 547 251 0.86 0.40 1.26
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi 38 years, 3 months, 29 days
Totals Per game
Team Games Goals Assists Goals Assists Contrib.
Sporting CP 25 3 4 0.12 0.16 0.28
Real Madrid 292 311 87 1.07 0.30 1.36
Juventus 98 81 16 0.83 0.16 0.99
Manchester Utd 236 103 37 0.44 0.16 0.59
Al-Nassr FC 82 79 17 0.96 0.21 1.17
Totals 733 577 161 0.79 0.22 1.01
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo 40 years, 8 months, 18 days

Last games:

Major League Soccer ·
Nashville SC vs Inter Miami
Nashville SC 2-5 Inter Miami
 
Messi, 90′
Goal Goal Penalty goal Assist
18-10-2025
Saudi Pro League ·
Al-Nassr FC vs Al-Fateh
Al-Nassr FC 5-1 Al-Fateh
C. Ronaldo, 90′
Goal Assist Penalty missed
 
18-10-2025