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Assists (Opta™ criteria) given by in National Team official games while both played in Spain

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
22000
2310+1
2460+6
2582+6
2693+6
27104+6
28175+12
29196+13
30196+13
31198+11
321912+7
331912+7

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: 21/08/2025

Distribution by age

PeriodLionel MessiCristiano RonaldoDifference
220
231+1
245+5
25220
26110
27110
2871+6
2921+1
300
312-2
324-4
330
Totals Per game
Team Games Goals Assists Goals Assists Contrib.
Argentina 55 27 19 0.49 0.35 0.84
Totals 55 27 19 0.49 0.35 0.84
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi 38 years, 1 month, 28 days
Totals Per game
Team Games Goals Assists Goals Assists Contrib.
Portugal 60 48 12 0.80 0.20 1.00
Totals 60 48 12 0.80 0.20 1.00
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo 40 years, 6 months, 16 days

Last games:

FIFA World Cup Qualifier · Group stage
Ecuador vs Argentina
Ecuador 1-3 Argentina
 
Messi, 90′
Goal Goal Goal
10-10-2017
FIFA World Cup · Group stage
Spain vs Portugal
España 3-3 Portugal
 
C. Ronaldo, 90′
Goal Goal Penalty goal
15-06-2018