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Assists (Opta™ criteria) given by Messi vs Ronaldo in national leagues before turning 30 years old

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
2014/201511296+16
2015/201612896+32
2016/201713796+41

Assists type

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

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
2014/2015189+9
2015/201616+16
2016/20179+9
Totals Per game
Team Games Goals Assists Goals Assists Contrib.
FC Barcelona 382 349 137 0.91 0.36 1.27
Totals 382 349 137 0.91 0.36 1.27
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi 38 years, 2 months, 0 days
Totals Per game
Team Games Goals Assists Goals Assists Contrib.
Sporting CP 25 3 4 0.12 0.16 0.28
Manchester Utd 196 84 34 0.43 0.17 0.60
Real Madrid 183 205 58 1.12 0.32 1.44
Totals 404 292 96 0.72 0.24 0.96
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo 40 years, 6 months, 19 days

Last games:

La Liga ·
FC Barcelona vs SD Eibar
FC Barcelona 4-2 SD Eibar
Messi, 90′
Goal Penalty goal Penalty missed
 
21-05-2017
La Liga ·
Córdoba CF vs Real Madrid
Córdoba CF 1-2 Real Madrid
 
C. Ronaldo, 82′
 
24-01-2015