The contest between Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for the football throne, reduced after the Portuguese farewell to Real Madrid, has a very unique reunion. The European duel between Barcelona and Juventus will serve to reproduce a rivalry that has been subdued in the last two years between two of the best of all time, who alternated at the world top for more than a decade. An era to which no similar precedent is known and which exposes the greatness of two unique players whose sporting competence has transcended beyond football. Their hegemony is expressed in magnificent numbers, unprecedented in contemporary football, which attract continuous comparisons between the two.
Barcelona
744 games
641 goals
258 assists
Juventus
98 games
75 goals
16 assists
Argentina
142 games
71 goals
42 assists
Real Madrid
438 games
450 goals
119 assists
Man united
292 games
118 goals
53 assists
Sporting Portugal
31 games
5 goals
2 assists
Portugal
170 games
102 goals
31 assists
Goalscorer evolution (clubs and national teams)
In the 2011-12 season both
players reached their ceiling
goal scorer
Value of
highest market
(Transfermarkt)
Messi: 180 million
euros (2018)
Christian: 120 million
(2014, 2015 and 2018)
Barcelona
744 games
641 goals
258 assists
Juventus
98 games
75 goals
16 assists
Argentina
142 games
71 goals
42 assists
Real Madrid
438 games
450 goals
119 assists
Man united
292 games
118 goals
53 assists
Sporting Portugal
31 games
5 goals
2 assists
Portugal
170 games
102 goals
31 assists
Goalscorer evolution (clubs and national teams)
In the 2011-12 season both
players reached their ceiling
goal scorer
Value of
highest market
(Transfermarkt)
Messi: 180 million
euros (2018)
Christian: 120 million
(2014, 2015 and 2018)
Goalscorer evolution (clubs and national teams)
In the 2011-12 season both
players reached their ceiling
goal scorer
The passage of time seems to have worn neither Messi nor Cristiano. They have accused him of some qualities of his game skeleton, but his conversion processes have mitigated a decline that would be logical. The evolution of his styles, with Messi as the total generator and Cristiano closer to the role of a classic striker, is as evident as it is commendable. The Argentine plays where and how he wants, the Portuguese treads more and more in the area. The map of movements during his career has undergone a progressive variation and refers to the need to continue being absolute references. Messi and Cristiano have changed as they changed the history of their clubs and, in the case of the Portuguese, of their selection.
From the band
to the center: everything
go through him
Extreme
dribbler
to scorer
unstoppable
The beginning (Sporting and M. United)
Touches of
ball in the area
Centers to
area per game
The graph that
represents in the
Barcelona
04-08
08-12
12-13
13-14
14-17
17-20
Part as far right. Get to line
bottom and also throws diagonals towards the area.
Uncovers like an overflow end,
speed and quality. Your space
it is limited to the side.
The explosion (M. United and R. Madrid)
Assume the false nine position. Participate in the
build the game and reach the area from behind.
When he changes profiles and approaches the area,
breaks into a total footballer. From the left
it is a constant threat.
The conversion (R. Madrid and Juventus)
Occupies both the center lane and the right wing
and leaves Luis Suárez as a reference in the area.
For several seasons, his weight has
multiply in finish zone when losing
acceleration and dribbling. He still likes it
start from the left.
You refocus your position and gain focus on the
end zone. Enable embeddings
by Jordi Alba on the left profile.
He started out in a liquid forward role, but
has been delaying its position. Is exchanged
with Griezmann.
What are they for your teams
Points earned
with their clubs
77.2%
(26.4% contribution
direct with goals and assists)
75.4%
(23.9% contribution
direct with goals and assists)
Performance in the finals
* Data from michelacosta.com
From the band
to the center: everything
go through him
Extreme
dribbler
to scorer
unstoppable
The beginning (Sporting and M. United)
Touches of
ball in the area
Centers to
area per game
The graph that
represents in the
Barcelona
04-08
08-12
12-13
13-14
14-17
17-20
Part as far right. Get to line
bottom and also throws diagonals towards the area.
Uncovers like an overflow end,
speed and quality. Your space
it is limited to the side.
The explosion (M. United and R. Madrid)
Assume the false nine position. Participate in the
build the game and reach the area from behind.
When he changes profiles and approaches the area,
breaks into a total footballer. From the left
it is a constant threat.
The conversion (R. Madrid and Juventus)
Occupies both the center lane and the right wing
and leaves Luis Suárez as a reference in the area.
For several seasons, his weight has
multiply in finish zone when losing
acceleration and dribbling. He still likes it
start from the left.
You refocus your position and gain focus on the
end zone. Enable embeddings
by Jordi Alba on the left profile.
He started out in a liquid forward role, but
has been delaying its position. Is exchanged
with Griezmann.
What are they for your teams
Points earned
with their clubs
77.2%
(26.4% contribution
direct with goals and assists)
75.4%
(23.9% contribution
direct with goals and assists)
Performance in the finals
* Data from michelacosta.com
Touches of
ball in the area
Centers to
area per game
The graph that
represents in the
Barcelona
04-08
08-12
12-13
13-14
14-17
17-20
From the band to the center: everything passes through him
Part as far right. Get to line
bottom and also throws diagonals towards the area.
Assume the false nine position. Participate in the
build the game and reach the area from behind.
Occupies both the center lane and the right wing
and leaves Luis Suárez as a reference in the area.
You refocus your position and gain focus on the
end zone. Enable embeddings
by Jordi Alba on the left profile.
He started out in a liquid forward role, but
has been delaying its position. Is exchanged
with Griezmann.
From extreme dribbler to unstoppable scorer
The beginning (Sporting and M. United)
Uncovers like an overflow end,
speed and quality. Your space
it is limited to the side.
The explosion (M. United and R. Madrid)
When he changes profiles and approaches the area,
breaks into a total footballer. From the left
it is a constant threat.
The conversion (R. Madrid and Juventus)
For several seasons, his weight has
multiply in finish zone when losing
acceleration and dribbling. He still likes it
start from the left.
The Champions, that cup so beautiful and desired in Messi's words, has been many times the measure used to define the superiority of one over the other. Although the Argentine has a better balance in individual matches, Cristiano's global records in the top continental competition are better. In the final rounds the Portuguese seems to be more reliable, as shown by the lower statistics. Regardless of this disparity, both collect records of all kinds in continental competition that show the impressive achievements they have achieved during their careers.
Global data in Champions
Matches
Goals
Assists
Titles
Christian (United and Madrid)
Round
Eighths
Rooms
Semifinals
Final
Barcelona
Bayern
Real Madrid
Chelsea
Arsenal
Man united
PSG
Liverpool
Man. City
Port
Juventus
Lyon
Christian
B. Dortmund
Shakhtar
Athletic
Messi
365
365
356
232
186
186
175
174
162
159
157
136
132
128
123
121
118
His distribution of goals in Europe
His distribution of goals in Europe
Spain
England
Scotland
Czech Rep.
Ukraine
Germany
Italy
France
Holland
Cyprus
Belarus
Russia
Switzerland
Denmark
Greece
Portugal
Spain
Italy
England
Germany
Holland
Turkey
France
Ukraine
Portugal
Switzerland
Sweden
Cyprus
Welsh
Russia
Denmark
Bulgaria
* Until the fifth day of this Champions League
Source – Opta – Own elaboration.
Global data in Champions
Matches
Goals
Assists
Titles
Christian (United and Madrid)
Round
Eighths
Rooms
Semifinals
Final
Barcelona
Bayern
Real Madrid
Chelsea
Arsenal
Man united
PSG
Liverpool
Man. City
Port
Juventus
Lyon
Christian
B. Dortmund
Shakhtar
Athletic
Messi
365
365
356
232
186
186
175
174
162
159
157
136
132
128
123
121
118
His distribution of goals in Europe
His distribution of goals in Europe
Spain
England
Scotland
Czech Rep.
Ukraine
Germany
Italy
France
Spain
Italy
England
Germany
Holland
Turkey
France
Ukraine
Holland
Cyprus
Belarus
Russia
Switzerland
Denmark
Greece
Portugal
Portugal
Switzerland
Sweden
Cyprus
Welsh
Russia
Denmark
Bulgaria
* Until the fifth day of this Champions League
Source – Opta – Own elaboration.
Global data in Champions
Matches
Goals
Assists
Titles
Decisive rounds of Messi
Round
Eighths
Rooms
Semifinals
Final
Decisive rounds of Cristiano
Round
Eighths
Rooms
Semifinals
Final
Goal distribution in Europe of Messi
Spain
England
Scotland
Czech Rep.
Ukraine
Germany
Italy
France
Holland
Cyprus
Belarus
Russia
Switzerland
Denmark
Greece
Portugal
Goal distribution in Europe by Cristiano
Spain
Italy
England
Germany
Holland
Turkey
France
Ukraine
Portugal
Switzerland
Sweden
Cyprus
Welsh
Russia
Denmark
Bulgaria
Barcelona
Bayern
Real Madrid
Chelsea
Arsenal
Man united
PSG
Liverpool
Man. City
Port
Juventus
Lyon
Christian
B. Dortmund
Shakhtar
Athletic
Messi
365
365
356
232
186
186
175
174
162
159
157
136
132
128
123
121
118
* Until the fifth day of this Champions League
Source – Opta – Own elaboration.
With 35 years Cristiano, for Messi's 33, the confrontation between Barcelona and Juventus may be the last time that both meet on the pitch. It is not just any date. When it comes to rivalry, there has possibly been no equal in the annals of football and almost in sport. Their battle at the top represents one of the best stories ever. Messi against Cristiano. I wish it would never end.