Defensive Stats - Messi vs Ronaldo

Messi and Ronaldo Defensive Stats

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo aren't exactly known for their defending, and the stats prove this perception to be an accurate one. On this page you can find detailed stats for the following actions:

Tackles

Season / Comp	Messi Tackles	Messi Tackles p90	Ronaldo Tackles	Ronaldo Tackles p90
22/23 League	26	0.82	2	0.35
22/23 UCL	4	0.59	0	NaN
22/23 League + UCL	30	0.78	2	0.35
21/22 League	10	0.42	9	0.33
21/22 UCL	3	0.43	3	0.44
21/22 League + UCL	13	0.42	12	0.35
20/21 League	18	0.54	6	0.19
20/21 UCL	5	0.83	0	0.00
20/21 League + UCL	23	0.58	6	0.16
19/20 League	21	0.66	14	0.43
19/20 UCL	2	0.27	1	0.13
19/20 League + UCL	23	0.58	15	0.37
18/19 League	12	0.40	10	0.33
18/19 UCL	10	1.08	3	0.36
18/19 League + UCL	22	0.56	13	0.34
17/18 League	17	0.51	7	0.28
17/18 UCL	9	1.03	5	0.38
17/18 League + UCL	26	0.62	12	0.31
16/17 League	23	0.73	6	0.21
16/17 UCL	10	1.11	3	0.22
16/17 League + UCL	33	0.82	9	0.22
15/16 League	11	0.36	11	0.31
15/16 UCL	5	0.71	3	0.24
15/16 League + UCL	16	0.43	14	0.29
14/15 League	27	0.72	9	0.26
14/15 UCL	14	1.10	2	0.17
14/15 League + UCL	41	0.82	11	0.24
13/14 League	14	0.50	18	0.64
13/14 UCL	3	0.43	5	0.45
13/14 League + UCL	17	0.49	23	0.59
12/13 League	20	0.69	14	0.46
12/13 UCL	2	0.22	5	0.42
12/13 League + UCL	22	0.57	19	0.45
11/12 League	23	0.63	19	0.51
11/12 UCL	7	0.64	8	0.77
11/12 League + UCL	30	0.63	27	0.57
10/11 League	23	0.72	17	0.53
10/11 UCL	9	0.77	5	0.44
10/11 League + UCL	32	0.74	22	0.50
09/10 League	31	0.98	13	0.47
09/10 UCL	6	0.55	3	0.60
09/10 League + UCL	37	0.87	16	0.49
Totals	365	0.65	201	0.38

Messi edges the tackling stats, making 0.65 tackles per 90 minutes, compared to Ronaldo's 0.38.

Interceptions

Season / Comp	Messi Interceptions	Messi Interceptions p90	Ronaldo Interceptions	Ronaldo Interceptions p90
22/23 League	2	0.06	1	0.17
22/23 UCL	3	0.44	0	NaN
22/23 League + UCL	5	0.13	1	0.17
21/22 League	4	0.17	2	0.07
21/22 UCL	0	0.00	0	0.00
21/22 League + UCL	4	0.13	2	0.06
20/21 League	6	0.18	5	0.16
20/21 UCL	2	0.33	2	0.32
20/21 League + UCL	8	0.20	7	0.19
19/20 League	7	0.22	6	0.19
19/20 UCL	2	0.27	4	0.51
19/20 League + UCL	9	0.23	10	0.25
18/19 League	3	0.10	6	0.20
18/19 UCL	3	0.32	3	0.36
18/19 League + UCL	6	0.15	9	0.24
17/18 League	7	0.21	6	0.24
17/18 UCL	3	0.34	3	0.23
17/18 League + UCL	10	0.24	9	0.23
16/17 League	7	0.22	8	0.28
16/17 UCL	0	0.00	4	0.30
16/17 League + UCL	7	0.17	12	0.29
15/16 League	6	0.20	8	0.23
15/16 UCL	1	0.14	3	0.24
15/16 League + UCL	7	0.19	11	0.23
14/15 League	7	0.19	0	0.00
14/15 UCL	7	0.55	2	0.17
14/15 League + UCL	14	0.28	2	0.04
13/14 League	2	0.07	4	0.14
13/14 UCL	4	0.57	1	0.09
13/14 League + UCL	6	0.17	5	0.13
12/13 League	9	0.31	10	0.33
12/13 UCL	6	0.66	6	0.50
12/13 League + UCL	15	0.39	16	0.38
11/12 League	23	0.63	19	0.51
11/12 UCL	3	0.27	7	0.68
11/12 League + UCL	26	0.55	26	0.55
10/11 League	21	0.66	24	0.74
10/11 UCL	9	0.77	8	0.71
10/11 League + UCL	30	0.69	32	0.73
09/10 League	41	1.30	13	0.47
09/10 UCL	10	0.91	4	0.80
09/10 League + UCL	51	1.20	17	0.52
Totals	198	0.35	159	0.30

Messi again has the edge in interceptions but only by a tiny margin, making 0.38 interceptions per 90 minutes, compared to Ronaldo's 0.31.

Clearances

Season / Comp	Messi Clearances	Messi Clearances p90	Ronaldo Clearances	Ronaldo Clearances p90
22/23 League	0	0.00	8	1.38
22/23 UCL	0	0.00	0	NaN
22/23 League + UCL	0	0.00	8	1.38
21/22 League	0	0.00	29	1.06
21/22 UCL	0	0.00	7	1.03
21/22 League + UCL	0	0.00	36	1.05
20/21 League	0	0.00	15	0.48
20/21 UCL	0	0.00	5	0.79
20/21 League + UCL	0	0.00	20	0.53
19/20 League	1	0.03	21	0.65
19/20 UCL	0	0.00	4	0.51
19/20 League + UCL	1	0.03	25	0.62
18/19 League	0	0.00	30	1.00
18/19 UCL	0	0.00	6	0.72
18/19 League + UCL	0	0.00	36	0.94
17/18 League	0	0.00	14	0.55
17/18 UCL	0	0.00	10	0.77
17/18 League + UCL	0	0.00	24	0.62
16/17 League	1	0.03	15	0.53
16/17 UCL	0	0.00	5	0.38
16/17 League + UCL	1	0.02	20	0.48
15/16 League	0	0.00	15	0.42
15/16 UCL	0	0.00	6	0.49
15/16 League + UCL	0	0.00	21	0.44
14/15 League	1	0.03	27	0.78
14/15 UCL	0	0.00	11	0.93
14/15 League + UCL	1	0.02	38	0.82
13/14 League	0	0.00	14	0.50
13/14 UCL	0	0.00	8	0.73
13/14 League + UCL	0	0.00	22	0.56
12/13 League	1	0.03	23	0.76
12/13 UCL	0	0.00	8	0.67
12/13 League + UCL	1	0.03	31	0.73
11/12 League	2	0.06	25	0.67
11/12 UCL	0	0.00	2	0.19
11/12 League + UCL	2	0.04	27	0.57
10/11 League	0	0.00	24	0.74
10/11 UCL	0	0.00	7	0.62
10/11 League + UCL	0	0.00	31	0.71
09/10 League	0	0.00	4	0.15
09/10 UCL	0	0.00	4	0.80
09/10 League + UCL	0	0.00	8	0.25
Totals	6	0.01	347	0.65

Cristiano Ronaldo completely dominates the clearances stats, with his aerial abilities making him a useful tool in defending set pieces. Ronaldo averages 0.61 clearances per 90 minutes, whereas Messi makes around 0.5 clearances per season.

Shots Blocked

Season / Comp	Messi Shots Blocked	Messi Shots Blocked p90	Ronaldo Shots Blocked	Ronaldo Shots Blocked p90
22/23 League	0	0.00	0	0.00
22/23 UCL	0	0.00	0	NaN
22/23 League + UCL	0	0.00	0	0.00
21/22 League	0	0.00	0	0.00
21/22 UCL	0	0.00	0	0.00
21/22 League + UCL	0	0.00	0	0.00
20/21 League	0	0.00	3	0.10
20/21 UCL	0	0.00	1	0.16
20/21 League + UCL	0	0.00	4	0.11
19/20 League	0	0.00	3	0.09
19/20 UCL	0	0.00	0	0.00
19/20 League + UCL	0	0.00	3	0.07
18/19 League	0	0.00	2	0.07
18/19 UCL	0	0.00	1	0.12
18/19 League + UCL	0	0.00	3	0.08
17/18 League	1	0.03	3	0.12
17/18 UCL	0	0.00	3	0.23
17/18 League + UCL	1	0.02	6	0.16
16/17 League	1	0.03	3	0.11
16/17 UCL	0	0.00	2	0.15
16/17 League + UCL	1	0.02	5	0.12
15/16 League	0	0.00	3	0.08
15/16 UCL	0	0.00	0	0.00
15/16 League + UCL	0	0.00	3	0.06
14/15 League	1	0.03	3	0.09
14/15 UCL	0	0.00	0	0.00
14/15 League + UCL	1	0.02	3	0.06
13/14 League	0	0.00	1	0.04
13/14 UCL	0	0.00	2	0.18
13/14 League + UCL	0	0.00	3	0.08
12/13 League	1	0.03	1	0.03
12/13 UCL	0	0.00	0	0.00
12/13 League + UCL	1	0.03	1	0.02
11/12 League	1	0.03	3	0.08
11/12 UCL	0	0.00	1	0.10
11/12 League + UCL	1	0.02	4	0.08
10/11 League	1	0.03	0	0.00
10/11 UCL	2	0.17	2	0.18
10/11 League + UCL	3	0.07	2	0.05
09/10 League	0	0.00	0	0.00
09/10 UCL	0	0.00	0	0.00
09/10 League + UCL	0	0.00	0	0.00
Totals	8	0.01	37	0.07

The numbers are extremely low for both players, but there is a clear margin in favour of Ronaldo. He blocks a shot around 3 times a season, compared to Messi who blocks a shot less than once per season on average.

Passes Blocked

Season / Comp	Messi Passes Blocked	Messi Passes Blocked p90	Ronaldo Passes Blocked	Ronaldo Passes Blocked p90
22/23 League	11	0.35	0	0.00
22/23 UCL	3	0.44	0	NaN
22/23 League + UCL	14	0.37	0	0.00
21/22 League	5	0.21	8	0.29
21/22 UCL	4	0.57	6	0.88
21/22 League + UCL	9	0.29	14	0.41
20/21 League	12	0.36	8	0.26
20/21 UCL	2	0.33	0	0.00
20/21 League + UCL	14	0.35	8	0.21
19/20 League	9	0.28	7	0.22
19/20 UCL	3	0.41	1	0.13
19/20 League + UCL	12	0.30	8	0.20
18/19 League	10	0.33	5	0.17
18/19 UCL	6	0.65	1	0.12
18/19 League + UCL	16	0.41	6	0.16
17/18 League	10	0.30	7	0.28
17/18 UCL	4	0.46	5	0.38
17/18 League + UCL	14	0.33	12	0.31
16/17 League	7	0.22	7	0.25
16/17 UCL	2	0.22	4	0.30
16/17 League + UCL	9	0.22	11	0.26
15/16 League	4	0.13	5	0.14
15/16 UCL	3	0.43	1	0.08
15/16 League + UCL	7	0.19	6	0.13
14/15 League	25	0.67	12	0.35
14/15 UCL	11	0.86	5	0.42
14/15 League + UCL	36	0.72	17	0.37
13/14 League	8	0.29	7	0.25
13/14 UCL	0	0.00	4	0.36
13/14 League + UCL	8	0.23	11	0.28
Totals	139	0.25	93	0.17

In terms of passes blocked, Messi comes out on top, blocking 0.36 passes per 90 minutes compared to Ronaldo's 0.24.

Crosses Blocked

Season / Comp	Messi Crosses Blocked	Messi Crosses Blocked p90	Ronaldo Crosses Blocked	Ronaldo Crosses Blocked p90
22/23 League	0	0.00	1	0.17
22/23 UCL	0	0.00	0	NaN
22/23 League + UCL	0	0.00	1	0.17
21/22 League	0	0.00	0	0.00
21/22 UCL	0	0.00	0	0.00
21/22 League + UCL	0	0.00	0	0.00
20/21 League	0	0.00	0	0.00
20/21 UCL	0	0.00	0	0.00
20/21 League + UCL	0	0.00	0	0.00
19/20 League	0	0.00	0	0.00
19/20 UCL	0	0.00	0	0.00
19/20 League + UCL	0	0.00	0	0.00
18/19 League	1	0.03	2	0.07
18/19 UCL	0	0.00	0	0.00
18/19 League + UCL	1	0.03	2	0.05
17/18 League	0	0.00	0	0.00
17/18 UCL	0	0.00	0	0.00
17/18 League + UCL	0	0.00	0	0.00
16/17 League	0	0.00	1	0.04
16/17 UCL	0	0.00	1	0.07
16/17 League + UCL	0	0.00	2	0.05
15/16 League	0	0.00	0	0.00
15/16 UCL	0	0.00	1	0.08
15/16 League + UCL	0	0.00	1	0.02
14/15 League	0	0.00	2	0.06
14/15 UCL	0	0.00	0	0.00
14/15 League + UCL	0	0.00	2	0.04
13/14 League	0	0.00	1	0.04
13/14 UCL	0	0.00	1	0.09
13/14 League + UCL	0	0.00	2	0.05
12/13 League	0	0.00	0	0.00
12/13 UCL	0	0.00	0	0.00
12/13 League + UCL	0	0.00	0	0.00
11/12 League	0	0.00	1	0.03
11/12 UCL	0	0.00	0	0.00
11/12 League + UCL	0	0.00	1	0.02
10/11 League	0	0.00	2	0.06
10/11 UCL	0	0.00	0	0.00
10/11 League + UCL	0	0.00	2	0.05
09/10 League	0	0.00	0	0.00
09/10 UCL	0	0.00	0	0.00
09/10 League + UCL	0	0.00	0	0.00
Totals	1	0.00	13	0.02

Again, the numbers are extremely low here, with Ronaldo blocking 11 crosses in 12 seasons, whilst Messi has just 1 blocked cross to his name.

Pressing

Season / Comp	Messi Pressures	Messi Pressures p90	Ronaldo Pressures	Ronaldo Pressures p90
21/22 League	220	9.21	182	6.66
20/21 League	291	8.67	225	7.22
19/20 League	287	8.97	248	7.65
18/19 League	324	10.76	281	9.40
17/18 League	413	12.40	225	8.85
Totals	1535	10.04	1161	7.94

In terms of pressing, it's Messi who comes out on top, making over 10 pressures per 90 minutes in the league since 2017/18, whereas Ronaldo has made around 8 pressures per 90 in this timeframe.

Pressing stats are via StatsBomb. All other stats are Opta.

Messi vs Ronaldo Defensive Stats