Lionel Messi has benefitted from playing for Barcelona and in La Liga since becoming a professional footballer. If you don’t believe the previous statement, then you simply ignore the numbers that other players, including Cristiano Ronaldo, have put up over the years. Barcelona supporters are hoping Messi can lead the Blaugrana back to Champions League glory in 2020. Fans can visit William Hill to get the best odds on Barcelona and use the latest bonus codes.
There is no doubt that Messi is one of the greatest of all-time. Yet, it was once believed Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, and (Brazilian) Ronaldo were all the greatest footballers during their careers.
However, in the case of those three, like Cristiano Ronaldo, moving to different clubs and playing in a variety of leagues have shown the numbers fluctuate. It also proves that being the G.O.A.T. may not be possible when you play for the same club for your entire career.
Ronaldo career stats
Ronaldo’s numbers are evidence that the defense in La Liga were just as much to blame as Messi is to praise for his goal totals. The Portuguese star bagged an incredible 311 goals in 292 La Liga matches. He had a goal every 81 minutes of La Liga football action. Juventus will have their eyes on the Champions League trophy and supporters can back the Bianconeri all the way to the final. The latest source: Ladpromocode gives fans bet bonus codes to use before wagering on Juventus in the Champions League.
The forward’s numbers outside of La Liga against stronger defenses in the Premier League and La Liga show something different. Ronaldo scored 84 goals in 196 Premier League games. Keep in mind, he also played at one of the best clubs and under the league’s best-ever manager, Sir Alex Ferguson. Yet, Ronaldo averaged a goal every 173 minutes.
In Serie A, it has been similar for the Juventus man. Ronaldo has bagged 31 goals in 45 league matches at a rate of 126 minutes per goal.
Messi career stats
Messi has only played for one club, so it is difficult to compare his numbers as he has never played outside the system he learned as a boy. Some of those things that were said about the Argentine from 10 years ago not being able to do it on a wet, windy night in Stoke, may now make some sense.
Messi has scored 432 goals in 466 La Liga games. That is one goal every 87 minutes. It is an unreal figure that can be partly explained by bad defending.
Add in the fact that relegation in La Liga is determined by head to head and not goal difference and we can see why the worst teams in the division have no reason to play their best players against Barcelona. Nor is there an incentive to keep the scorelines low.
A decade ago, there was every possibility that Messi would leave Barcelona at some point to join Chelsea or Manchester City. That has not happened as perhaps Messi knows his limits. Those limits are apparent with the Argentina national team and in the Champions League. If Messi doesn’t have players of a high-calibre around him, he struggles at both the international and Champions League level.
Those elite Barcelona sides are, right now, a thing of the past. Since Neymar left, the club has been far more miss than hit in the transfer market. Messi is also ageing and that plays a big factor in his production. However, his remaining with one team and not challenging himself at another club is part of the proof that he may not be the G.O.A.T.