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Assists (Opta™ criteria) given by Messi vs Ronaldo in UEFA Euro and Copa America 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
2004	0	2	-2
2007	1	2	-1
2008	1	3	-2
2011	4	3	+1
2012	4	3	+1
2015	7	3	+4
2016	11	3	+8

Assists type

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

Distribution by calendar year

Period	Lionel Messi	Cristiano Ronaldo	Difference
2004		2	-2
2007	1		+1
2008		1	-1
2011	3		+3
2012			0
2015	3		+3
2016	4		+4

	Totals			Per game
Team	Games	Goals	Assists	Goals	Assists	Contrib.
Argentina	21	8	11	0.38	0.52	0.90
Totals	21	8	11	0.38	0.52	0.90

Summary

Lionel Messi 38 years, 2 months, 0 days

	Totals			Per game
Team	Games	Goals	Assists	Goals	Assists	Contrib.
Portugal	14	6	3	0.43	0.21	0.64
Totals	14	6	3	0.43	0.21	0.64

Summary

Cristiano Ronaldo 40 years, 6 months, 19 days

Last games:

Copa América · Final
Chile vs Argentina

	0-0
		Messi, 120′
Penalty shootout
	3-2
		Messi

26-06-2016

View all matches

UEFA Euro · Semifinals
Spain vs Portugal

	0-0
		C. Ronaldo, 120′
Penalty shootout
	4-2

27-06-2012

View all matches