Assists (Opta™ criteria) given by Messi vs Ronaldo in their National Teams 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
Period
Lionel Messi
Cristiano Ronaldo
Difference
2003/2004
0
3
-3
2004/2005
0
7
-7
2005/2006
3
9
-6
2006/2007
5
11
-6
2007/2008
8
12
-4
2008/2009
10
12
-2
2009/2010
11
15
-4
2010/2011
17
17
0
2011/2012
21
19
+2
2012/2013
24
21
+3
2013/2014
26
22
+4
2014/2015
30
22
+8
2015/2016
34
22
+12
2016/2017
36
22
+14
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
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