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Assists (Opta™ criteria) given by Messi vs Ronaldo in their National Teams

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
2003/200403-3
2004/200507-7
2005/200639-6
2006/2007511-6
2007/2008812-4
2008/20091012-2
2009/20101115-4
2010/201117170
2011/20122119+2
2012/20132421+3
2013/20142622+4
2014/20153022+8
2015/20163424+10
2016/20173626+10
2017/20183929+10
2018/20194029+11
2019/20204129+12
2020/20214631+15
2021/20224832+16
2022/20235333+20
2023/20245836+22
2024/20255837+21
2025/20265837+21

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
2003/20043-3
2004/20054-4
2005/200632+1
2006/2007220
2007/200831+2
2008/20092+2
2009/201013-2
2010/201162+4
2011/201242+2
2012/201332+1
2013/201421+1
2014/20154+4
2015/201642+2
2016/2017220
2017/2018330
2018/20191+1
2019/20201+1
2020/202152+3
2021/202221+1
2022/202351+4
2023/202453+2
2024/20251-1
2025/20260
Totals Per game
Team Games Goals Assists Goals Assists Contrib.
Argentina 194 114 58 0.59 0.30 0.89
Totals 194 114 58 0.59 0.30 0.89
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi 38 years, 3 months, 11 days
Totals Per game
Team Games Goals Assists Goals Assists Contrib.
Portugal 223 141 37 0.63 0.17 0.80
Totals 223 141 37 0.63 0.17 0.80
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo 40 years, 8 months, 0 days

Last games:

FIFA World Cup Qualifier · Group stage
Argentina vs Venezuela
Argentina 3-0 Venezuela
Messi, 90′
Goal Goal
 
04-09-2025
FIFA World Cup Qualifier · Group stage
Hungary vs Portugal
Hungría 2-3 Portugal
 
C. Ronaldo, 87′
Penalty goal
09-09-2025