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Assists (Opta™ criteria) given by in National Team official games 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
2003/200402-2
2004/200506-6
2005/200617-6
2006/200728-6
2007/200839-6
2008/200959-4
2009/2010610-4
2010/2011911-2
2011/20121112-1
2012/20131314-1
2013/201415150
2014/20151815+3
2015/20162215+7
2016/20172415+9

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 682 26/257 10.12% 8/257 3.11% 88/257 34.24% 15/257 5.84% 137/257 53.31%
Cristiano Ronaldo 638 15/148 10.14% 0/148 0% 17/148 11.49% 2/148 1.35% 116/148 78.38%

Source: Opta™ Sports – Last update: 20/08/2025

Distribution by season

PeriodLionel MessiCristiano RonaldoDifference
2003/20042-2
2004/20054-4
2005/2006110
2006/2007110
2007/2008110
2008/20092+2
2009/2010110
2010/201131+2
2011/201221+1
2012/2013220
2013/201421+1
2014/20153+3
2015/20164+4
2016/20172+2
Totals Per game
Team Games Goals Assists Goals Assists Contrib.
Argentina 77 31 24 0.40 0.31 0.71
Totals 77 31 24 0.40 0.31 0.71
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi 38 years, 1 month, 28 days
Totals Per game
Team Games Goals Assists Goals Assists Contrib.
Portugal 79 41 15 0.52 0.19 0.71
Totals 79 41 15 0.52 0.19 0.71
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo 40 years, 6 months, 16 days

Last games:

FIFA World Cup Qualifier · Group stage
Argentina vs Chile
Argentina 1-0 Chile
Messi, 90′
Penalty goal
 
23-03-2017
UEFA Euro Qualifier · Group stage
Portugal vs Armenia
Portugal 1-0 Armenia
C. Ronaldo, 90′
Goal
 
14-11-2014