Comparison Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo

Last update:

Player	Date	Last game computed		Goals	Assists
Lionel Messi	21 12 2019	FC Barcelona 4-1 Real Club Deportivo Alavés	90
Cristiano Ronaldo	22 12 2019	SS Lazio 3-1 Juventus	90

In football conversations usually arises the discussion over who is better… if Leo Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. Any Google search yields hundreds of results on “Messi vs Ronaldo” or “Cristiano Ronaldo vs Messi”. Assuming that we will always make a subjective analysis, based on our personal preferences, I have made this comparison, as a statistic, rigorous and totally objective analysis, in which I will confront their individual and collective achievements. I have incorporated an aspect that many people apply: the comparison of the two while Cristiano Ronaldo played for Real Madrid (2009 to 2018).

Lionel Messi

32 years, 6 months, 1 day.

Seasons as
professional player: 16

Cristiano Ronaldo

34 years, 10 months, 20 days.

Seasons as
professional player: 18

Team	Games	Goals	Assists	Average
Sporting de Portugal	31	5	6	0,16
Manchester United	292	118	54	0,40
Real Madrid	438	450	119	1,03
Juventus	64	40	11	0,63
Portugal	164	99	30	0,60
Totals:	989	712	220	0,72

77 tournaments played, 31 won (40.26%)

Team	Games	Goals	Assists	Average
FC Barcelona	705	618	243	0,88
Argentina	138	70	42	0,51
Totals:	843	688	285	0,82

73 tournaments played, 35 won (47.95%)

Scores a goal every99m 20s

Gives an assist every239m 47s

Participates in goal every70m 14s

Scores a goal every112m 29s

Gives an assist every364m 03s

Participates in goal every85m 56s

ALL-TIME STATS

Last update:12/22/2019© michelacosta.com
twitter.com/michelac0sta

Let's first analyze the global figures that both players have produced throughout their career.

We can see that Leo Messi's scoring average in his entire career (0.82) is 0.1 percentage points higher than Cristiano Ronaldo's (0.72).

Cristiano Ronaldo has played 146 games more than Leo Messi in his entire career and has scored only 24 goals more than the argentinian. Also, Leo Messi has given 65 assists more than Cristiano Ronaldo in his entire career, making a total of 973 goals generated in 843 games (1.15 goals generated by game). Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo has generated 932 goals in 989 games, for a total of 0.94 goals generated by game in his entire career.

Adding goals and assists we can affirm that, in his entire career, Leo Messi has generated 41 goals more than Cristiano Ronaldo, despite having played 146 matches less.