Lionel Messi v Cristiano Ronaldo Who will win the key battle in Barcelona v Real Madrid...
Lionel Messi v Cristiano Ronaldo
Will Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo come out on top when Barcelona face Real Madrid on Sunday? We check the stats...
Barcelona has Real Madrid this Sunday, live on Sky Sports, in the 238th portion of the Clasico. Driving the lines for the two sides will be the two greatest names in world football - Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo - clashing for the 30th time in this apparatus. Messi has kept on commanding the Spanish best level this season and is best of the heap in each major assaulting measurement. He as of now has more objectives, helps, chances made, fruitful spills and touches in the resistance's case than some other player.
Lionel Messi's sensational scoring streak
| La Liga 2017/18 | Total | La Liga Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 32 | 1st |
| Assists | 12 | 1st |
| Chances created | 82 | 1st |
| Successful dribbles | 172 | 1st |
| Touches in opp. box | 282 | 1st |
Messi, whose 32 goals mean it's now nine straight seasons he's reached over 25 goals in La Liga, recorded his 41st career hat-trick for Barcelona last weekend, putting him in red-hot form ahead of this match. Argentina forward is also the record goal-scorer in Clasico history, finding the net on 25 occasions - seven more than any other player.
Clasico top scorers - all competitions
| Player | Games | Goals | Games per goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lionel Messi | 37 | 25 | 1.5 |
| Alfredo Di Stefano | 30 | 18 | 1.7 |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | 29 | 17 | 1.7 |
| Raul | 37 | 15 | 2.5 |
While Messi's form has been constant this season, Ronaldo started off in uncharacteristically wayward fashion in front of goal, scoring in just three La Liga games up until January 21.
Since then, though, no player in Europe's top-5 leagues comes anywhere close to his level of potency.
Most goals in Europe's top five leagues - since January 21
| Player | Goals | Games played |
|---|---|---|
| Cristiano Ronaldo | 20 | 11 |
| Lionel Messi | 15 | 14 |
| Antoine Griezmann | 13 | 13 |
| Robert Lewandowski | 13 | 11 |
| Mohamed Salah | 13 | 12 |
Ronaldo has struck an incredible 20 goals in his last 11 La Liga appearances, five more than any other player, and generally in fewer appearances. He's currently scored in each of his last eight appearances, his best run of goals in consecutive La Liga games since 2014.
RELATED
Messi at that point won the following four Ballons d'Or, with Cristiano asserting the accompanying two, preceding Leo included another and after that Ronaldo two more. So now they have five each and the Portuguese now has the opportunity to proceed, having been 4-1 behind at one phase.
In front of the Clasico conflict on Sunday at Camp Nou, in which Messi and Ronaldo will both element, Goal investigates which of the two players is driving the race to win the 2018 Ballon d'Or in the not so distant future...
In front of the Clasico conflict on Sunday at Camp Nou, in which Messi and Ronaldo will both element, Goal investigates which of the two players is driving the race to win the 2018 Ballon d'Or in the not so distant future...
GOALS
Messi and Ronaldo have scored a comparable measure of objectives so far this season, with 43 for the Argentine assailant and 42 for the Portuguese forward in all rivalries. The Real Madrid man gloats a superior proportion, with his 42 landing in only 41 diversions for Los Blancos. Then, Messi's 43 have originated from 51 matches for Barcelona. Ronaldo has scored 15 of his in the Champions League contrasted with only six in the mainland rivalry for his Barca equal, however, Messi has 32 (to Cristiano's 24) in La Liga. At the midway stage in the Primera Division, the Portuguese had just scored four, however, the Ballon d'Or is granted for the schedule year and generally, he has slightly more objectives (26 of every 19 recreations) and at a superior proportion than Messi (24 out of 26) in 2018.
ASSISTS
Messi drives the path as far as help, with 17 in all rivalries contrasted with eight for Ronaldo.
The Argentine has piled on 12 aids La Liga, with two in the Champions League and three in the Copa del Rey (counting two in the 5-0 last prevail upon Sevilla a month ago).
In the meantime, five of Cristiano's help has come in the Primera Division, with the other three all in the Champions League. With Madrid going out to Leganes in the last 16 of the Copa del Rey, Ronaldo did not, in any case, show up in that opposition this season.
TROPHIES
Genuine Madrid won the Spanish Supercopa, the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup prior to this season, yet those trophies touched base in 2017 and won't have a course on the Ballon d'Or.
Los Blancos are yet to assert a title in 2018, in spite of the fact that they will have an opportunity to win the greatest prize in club football as they confront Liverpool in the Champions League last in the not so distant future. As far as concerns them, Barcelona has officially won two trophies in 2018: La Liga and the Copa del Rey. That implies Messi has the edge so far in this office.
INFLUENCE ON TEAM
This one always causes plenty of debate. Because goals are the most important commodity in football and Ronaldo scores them by the bucket load. However, in terms of overall influence on the pitch, Messi offers more than the Real Madrid man.
These days, the Argentine is both a goalscorer and a creator for Barcelona, while his national team also rely on him to do virtually everything. While Cristiano has changed his game to become less of a winger and more a centre-forward these days, Messi has gone the other way. He may be scoring a little less than he used to, but his overall influence is greater than ever.
These days, the Argentine is both a goalscorer and a creator for Barcelona, while his national team also rely on him to do virtually everything. While Cristiano has changed his game to become less of a winger and more a centre-forward these days, Messi has gone the other way. He may be scoring a little less than he used to, but his overall influence is greater than ever.
OTHER CANDIDATES
One clear contender to end the Messi-Ronaldo duopoly in the Ballon d'Or has developed this season and his name is Mohamed Salah.
The Liverpool forward is getting a charge out of a remarkable season and he has hit 43 objectives in 49 amusements this term, terminating the Reds to the Champions League last.
In the event that they win it, he will be a major contender to win the Ballon d'Or, particularly in light of the fact that that would mean Ronaldo passes up a great opportunity for a noteworthy group trophy this season.
Neymar could likewise be a main hopeful if Brazil wins the World Cup this late spring, however, there are not by any stretch of the imagination some other names in the edge at this stage.
WHO IS CURRENTLY AHEAD?
It is still early days, however, Messi most likely has the edge over Ronaldo at this stage since he has won two trophies and the Portuguese are yet to assert any flatware in 2018.
Nonetheless, that could change and clearly will if Real Madrid win the Champions League, with incredible accentuation put on the mainland rivalry in the current Ballon d'Or votes
The World Cup may also be a factor and if Argentina were to win it, unlikely as that seems right now, Messi would be the runaway favourite for the individual award. Likewise, Ronaldo if Portugal were to claim the trophy this summer. Cristiano's side is European champions, of course, but they are not among the favourites to win the World Cup and a triumph in July looks like a long shot.
