Saw this thread getting good numbers and thought it was dumb so this is a thread disproving the points made in the original.

https://twitter.com/FootyThreads_/status/1264675859245522944?s=20

[THREAD]

The main problem with this thread is ignoring underlying context and going straight for raw numbers, which is not a smart move considering this debate is way deeper than just that

The first point is about their overall career stats. Showing that Messi has more G+A and lower-

minutes per G+A. This is because Ronaldo played the first 200-230 games of his career as a midfielder in the toughest era of the Premier League.

Messi since the start of his career has always been a forward and even started out as a centre forward.

As soon as Ronaldo moved up the field from a ball carrier to a decisive player, his numbers skyrocketed ie. seasons 06/07 and 07/08. This showcases how much his position on the field affected his statistical output.

He talks about their International careers, here is one of my main problems with the thread. He mentions Ronaldo having a better goal ratio and Messi having better assist ratio, which is fair.

But then makes a point about Ronaldo scoring againt lesser footballing nations than-

Messi. He fails to mention that 44% of Messi's international goals and assists have come in friendlies, which are usually against the B and C teams of South American nations.

Yet again ignoring crucial underlying numbers.

Messi's stats in international games

Friendlies: 34G and 15A in 48 games, 1,02 GA/G
Competitive: 36G and 27A in 90 games, 0,7 GA/G

Notice the gap?

If we look at Ronaldo's stats

Friendlies: 17G and 7A in 47 games, 0,51 GA/G.
Competitive: 82G and 21A in 117 games, 0,90 GA/G.

Ronaldo's GA/G majorly increases in competitive games whereas Messi's significantly decreases. Doesn't care about friendlies.

He also looks at their stats in International tournaments, but ignores context again and uses WhoScored as a metric of comparison, an AWFUL move.

Ronaldo's G/A in Major Intl. tournaments
1 vs Greece
1 vs Russia
4 vs Netherlands
1 vs Iran
4 vs Czech
1 vs Germany
2 vs North Korea
1 vs USA
1 vs Ghana
3 vs Hungary
1 vs Croatia
2 vs Wales
1 vs Morocco
3 vs Spain
3 vs Switzerland

12 GA vs top 10 ranked teams.

Messi's GA in Intl. tournaments
2 vs Montenegro
4 vs USA
1 vs Peru
2 vs Mexico
2 vs South Korea
1 vs Greece
2 vs Costa Rica
1 vs Uruguay
1 vs Bosnia
1 vs Iran
3 vs Nigeria
1 vs Switzerland
5 vs Paraguay
3 vs Panama
3 vs Venezuela
2 vs France
1 vs Chile

2GA vs top10 ranked teams

Next up he talks about xG graphs, the only thing I will say is that xG graphs only tells about a players playstyle rather than anything else. If xG was the bible of football Dimitri Payet would be top 10 if not top 5 in the world.

He also talks about UCL, Ronaldo's prime competition. Mentions GA/G but yet again fails to realize underlying context. Due to how deep Ronaldo played in his youth, it took until his 27th game to score his first UCL goal, and had 8 GA until then. Yet again sho-

wing how much him playing as a midfielder impacted his stats, for comparison Messi had 17 GA in his first 27 UCL games.

Next point he makes is about Finals of different tournaments. Messi has more GA in finals but also has played many finals against significantly worse opponents

He also brings up their record against the top 6 teams in PL. Fails to mention that Ronaldo played most of his games against those teams as a teenage midfielder.

Messi played his games against them mostly in his prime, which is why he has a better record against them, simple.

He mentions the counter argument of Ronaldo having better GA/G in La liga, but counters it by saying Messi played his youth years there, which makes sense and is appropriate context.

The problem however is how he completely ignores similar context when referring to Ronaldo, bias

His final main point is about Ronaldo and Messi's "prime" seasons, or at least statistical primes.

Messi's 11/12 is purely statistically better than Ronaldo's 14/15 season.

However ignores context once more.

In their statistical prime seasons Ronaldo had better GA/G in La Liga, Messi had better GA/G in UCL.

However there is a difference in the structure of teams they had. Messi in 11/12 was a centre forward was Barca's main and sole goal scorer.

His attacking partners Pedro and Sanchez had 19 GA and 21 GA respectively. Ronaldo's attacking partners Benzema and Bale in 14/15 had 37GA and 29 GA respectively.

Meaning Ronaldo had to share more of his stats whilst Messi was Barca's central focus.

At the end he makes a statement about how it's stupid to compare them since he thinks Messi is clear after making a bunch of uninformed arguments and non-contextual points, showing a ridiculous degree of bias for someone masquerading as a neutral page.

End of thread.