Who’s really the flop? Messi overtakes Ronaldo this season

Carlo Garganese

8 Feb 2022 05:00 CST
3 min read

For much of the 2021-22 season, the narrative has been that Cristiano Ronaldo is enjoying a brilliant individual season at Manchester United, while Lionel Messi is flopping at PSG.

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The two best players of their generation both made high-profile transfers last summer.

Ronaldo returned to Manchester United after 12 years away, leaving Juventus in the final days of the summer window.

Ronaldo 14-7 Messi: Who has more goals & assists this season?

Messi, meanwhile, made a shock move to PSG from his beloved Barcelona on a free transfer after the Blaugrana were unable to financially and legally register a new contract with the Argentine hero.

Much has been said and written on how Messi took three months to score his first Ligue 1 goal and then another two-and-a-half months to follow that up with a second league strike.

Much has also been said and written about how Ronaldo has 14 goals in all competitions and that, despite turning 37 last week, he is showing no signs of slowing down.

But when we break down and scrutinise the numbers closer, Messi’s output is actually superior to Ronaldo’s this season.

Ronaldo’s 14 goals and three assists from 23 appearances works out at 0.75 goal contributions per 90 minutes.

Messi’s seven goals and six assists from 19 appearances in all competitions comes to 0.83 goal contributions per 90 minutes.

Lionel Messi has a goal or an assist every 109 mins since joining #PSG.

Cristiano Ronaldo's same stat for Man Utd this season is once every 120 mins.

👀 pic.twitter.com/EvNyVIg7pb
— Robin Bairner (@RBairner) February 7, 2022

Ronaldo also has slowed down considerably recently. He has yet to score or assist in 2022, whereas Messi appeared to be back to something close to his best as he chipped in a wonderful finish and created another in the 5-1 PSG win at Lille on Sunday night.

Of course, one must recognise that Messi is playing for a better team and in a weaker league than Ronaldo.

But, these numbers show that the narrative of Messi flopping and Ronaldo flying is a touch unfair.