While their respective avid fans spend much time arguing against each other, Opta has revealed that both players have something in common: the number 349! It represents the total amount of goals and assists they have made in the last 10 years.
Opta’s stats range from October 16, 2004 to October 16, 2014. The chart, which presents data from the Top 5 European competitions, reveals the following facts:
- Ronaldo has played more matches than Messi
- Ronaldo has more goals than Messi despite being a winger
- Messi has more assists than Ronaldo despite not being a winger
On Matchday 8 of La Liga, Lionel Messi’s Barcelona will host Eibar and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Real Madrid will play away to Levante. Between La Pulga and CR7, who will have more goals and assists just before and after El Clasico?
Unsurprisingly, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the closest player to break into the Messi-Ronaldo realm. Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney is fourth. Frank Lampard also makes the top 10 and he is a midfielder, not an attacker. Finally, unlike many may have guessed, Dimitar Berbatov is there… above Robin van Persie!
Full Top 10 of the players with the most goals and assists (16/10/2004 – 16/10/2014)
*Image source: Sportskeeda
