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Assists (Opta™ criteria) given by Messi and Ronaldo in National Team official games before turning 30 years old by calendar year

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
200406-6
200507-7
200617-6
200738-5
200849-5
200959-4
2010611-5
20111012-2
20121113-2
201314140
201415150
20151815+3
20162415+9
20172415+9

Assists type

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

Distribution by year

PeriodLionel MessiCristiano RonaldoDifference
20046-6
20051-1
20061+1
200721+1
2008110
20091+1
201012-1
201141+3
2012110
201331+2
2014110
20153+3
20166+6
20170