Key Passes - Messi vs Ronaldo All Time Key Pass Stats
Non-European league stats not included in totals
League + Champs League Key Passes since 09/10
Messi League + Champs League Key Passes since 09/10
1543 Key Passes
Messi 2.49 key passes every 90 minutes
Ronaldo League + Champs League Key Passes since 09/10
890 Key Passes
Ronaldo 1.66 key passes every 90 minutes
messivsronaldo.app League + Champs League Key Passes
Lionel Messi Cristiano Ronaldo
Messi League + Champs League Key Passes 2024/25
7
Ronaldo League + Champs League Key Passes 2024/25
16
Messi League + Champs League Key Passes 2024
35
Ronaldo League + Champs League Key Passes 2024
30
Messi League + Champs League Key Passes 2023/24
34
Ronaldo League + Champs League Key Passes 2023/24
41
Messi League + Champs League Key Passes 2023
69
Ronaldo League + Champs League Key Passes 2023
43
Messi League + Champs League Key Passes 2022/23
112
Ronaldo League + Champs League Key Passes 2022/23
27
Messi League + Champs League Key Passes 2021/22
76
Ronaldo League + Champs League Key Passes 2021/22
36
Messi League + Champs League Key Passes 2020/21
100
Ronaldo League + Champs League Key Passes 2020/21
45
Messi League + Champs League Key Passes 2019/20
106
Ronaldo League + Champs League Key Passes 2019/20
56
Messi League + Champs League Key Passes 2018/19
119
Ronaldo League + Champs League Key Passes 2018/19
65
Messi League + Champs League Key Passes 2017/18
104
Ronaldo League + Champs League Key Passes 2017/18
53
Messi League + Champs League Key Passes 2016/17
98
Ronaldo League + Champs League Key Passes 2016/17
51
Messi League + Champs League Key Passes 2015/16
87
Ronaldo League + Champs League Key Passes 2015/16
74
Messi League + Champs League Key Passes 2014/15
131
Ronaldo League + Champs League Key Passes 2014/15
92
Messi League + Champs League Key Passes 2013/14
91
Ronaldo League + Champs League Key Passes 2013/14
70
Messi League + Champs League Key Passes 2012/13
63
Ronaldo League + Champs League Key Passes 2012/13
86
Messi League + Champs League Key Passes 2011/12
124
Ronaldo League + Champs League Key Passes 2011/12
84
Messi League + Champs League Key Passes 2010/11
91
Ronaldo League + Champs League Key Passes 2010/11
88
Messi League + Champs League Key Passes 2009/10
85
Ronaldo League + Champs League Key Passes 2009/10
84
Messi League + Champs League Key Passes 2002/03
0
Ronaldo League + Champs League Key Passes 2002/03
0
League Key Passes since 09/10
Messi League Since 09 Key Passes since 09/10
1253 Key Passes
Messi 2.53 key passes every 90 minutes
Ronaldo League Since 09 Key Passes since 09/10
677 Key Passes
Ronaldo 1.67 key passes every 90 minutes
messivsronaldo.app League Key Passes
Lionel Messi Cristiano Ronaldo
Messi League Since 09 Key Passes 2024/25
7
Ronaldo League Since 09 Key Passes 2024/25
11
Messi League Since 09 Key Passes 2024
30
Ronaldo League Since 09 Key Passes 2024
22
Messi League Since 09 Key Passes 2023/24
29
Ronaldo League Since 09 Key Passes 2023/24
33
Messi League Since 09 Key Passes 2023
65
Ronaldo League Since 09 Key Passes 2023
43
Messi League Since 09 Key Passes 2022/23
93
Ronaldo League Since 09 Key Passes 2022/23
27
Messi League Since 09 Key Passes 2021/22
63
Ronaldo League Since 09 Key Passes 2021/22
27
Messi League Since 09 Key Passes 2020/21
77
Ronaldo League Since 09 Key Passes 2020/21
36
Messi League Since 09 Key Passes 2019/20
89
Ronaldo League Since 09 Key Passes 2019/20
51
Messi League Since 09 Key Passes 2018/19
92
Ronaldo League Since 09 Key Passes 2018/19
48
Messi League Since 09 Key Passes 2017/18
87
Ronaldo League Since 09 Key Passes 2017/18
38
Messi League Since 09 Key Passes 2016/17
79
Ronaldo League Since 09 Key Passes 2016/17
31
Messi League Since 09 Key Passes 2015/16
77
Ronaldo League Since 09 Key Passes 2015/16
51
Messi League Since 09 Key Passes 2014/15
95
Ronaldo League Since 09 Key Passes 2014/15
76
Messi League Since 09 Key Passes 2013/14
75
Ronaldo League Since 09 Key Passes 2013/14
48
Messi League Since 09 Key Passes 2012/13
46
Ronaldo League Since 09 Key Passes 2012/13
63
Messi League Since 09 Key Passes 2011/12
92
Ronaldo League Since 09 Key Passes 2011/12
60
Messi League Since 09 Key Passes 2010/11
67
Ronaldo League Since 09 Key Passes 2010/11
67
Messi League Since 09 Key Passes 2009/10
65
Ronaldo League Since 09 Key Passes 2009/10
75
Messi League Since 09 Key Passes 2002/03
0
Ronaldo League Since 09 Key Passes 2002/03
0
Champions League Key Passes since 09/10
Messi Europe Since 09 Key Passes since 09/10
290 Key Passes
Messi 2.35 key passes every 90 minutes
Ronaldo Europe Since 09 Key Passes since 09/10
213 Key Passes
Ronaldo 1.64 key passes every 90 minutes
messivsronaldo.app Champions League Key Passes
Lionel Messi Cristiano Ronaldo
Messi Europe Since 09 Key Passes 2023
4
Ronaldo Europe Since 09 Key Passes 2023
0
Messi Europe Since 09 Key Passes 2022/23
19
Ronaldo Europe Since 09 Key Passes 2022/23
0
Messi Europe Since 09 Key Passes 2021/22
13
Ronaldo Europe Since 09 Key Passes 2021/22
9
Messi Europe Since 09 Key Passes 2020/21
23
Ronaldo Europe Since 09 Key Passes 2020/21
9
Messi Europe Since 09 Key Passes 2019/20
17
Ronaldo Europe Since 09 Key Passes 2019/20
5
Messi Europe Since 09 Key Passes 2018/19
27
Ronaldo Europe Since 09 Key Passes 2018/19
17
Messi Europe Since 09 Key Passes 2017/18
17
Ronaldo Europe Since 09 Key Passes 2017/18
15
Messi Europe Since 09 Key Passes 2016/17
19
Ronaldo Europe Since 09 Key Passes 2016/17
20
Messi Europe Since 09 Key Passes 2015/16
10
Ronaldo Europe Since 09 Key Passes 2015/16
23
Messi Europe Since 09 Key Passes 2014/15
36
Ronaldo Europe Since 09 Key Passes 2014/15
16
Messi Europe Since 09 Key Passes 2013/14
16
Ronaldo Europe Since 09 Key Passes 2013/14
22
Messi Europe Since 09 Key Passes 2012/13
17
Ronaldo Europe Since 09 Key Passes 2012/13
23
Messi Europe Since 09 Key Passes 2011/12
32
Ronaldo Europe Since 09 Key Passes 2011/12
24
Messi Europe Since 09 Key Passes 2010/11
24
Ronaldo Europe Since 09 Key Passes 2010/11
21
Messi Europe Since 09 Key Passes 2009/10
20
Ronaldo Europe Since 09 Key Passes 2009/10
9
Messi Europe Since 09 Key Passes 2002/03
0
Ronaldo Europe Since 09 Key Passes 2002/03
0
Messi and Ronaldo Key Passes Breakdown
Unlike the stats above, the detailed stats below do not include stats from the current season.
First of all, what is a key pass? A key pass is any pass that leads to the recipient of that pass having a shot. To put it simply, a more accurate name for this stat would be "shot assist".
Key Passes by Length
-
Total
Short
Long
Season / Comp
MessiMessi total key passes
RonaldoRonaldo total key passes
MessiMessi short key passes
RonaldoRonaldo short key passes
MessiMessi long key passes
RonaldoRonaldo long key passes
22/23 League
93
6
73
6
20
0
22/23 UCL
19
0
16
0
3
0
22/23 Total
112
6
89
6
23
0
21/22 League
63
27
54
27
9
0
21/22 UCL
13
9
12
8
1
1
21/22 Total
76
36
66
35
10
1
20/21 League
77
36
67
35
10
1
20/21 UCL
23
9
20
9
3
0
20/21 Total
100
45
87
44
13
1
19/20 League
89
51
75
48
14
3
19/20 UCL
17
5
16
5
1
0
19/20 Total
106
56
91
53
15
3
18/19 League
92
48
84
47
8
1
18/19 UCL
27
17
25
16
2
1
18/19 Total
119
65
109
63
10
2
17/18 League
87
38
81
34
6
4
17/18 UCL
17
15
16
13
1
2
17/18 Total
104
53
97
47
7
6
16/17 League
79
31
74
28
5
3
16/17 UCL
19
20
18
19
1
1
16/17 Total
98
51
92
47
6
4
15/16 League
77
51
66
51
11
0
15/16 UCL
10
23
10
22
0
1
15/16 Total
87
74
76
73
11
1
14/15 League
95
76
90
72
5
4
14/15 UCL
36
16
34
16
2
0
14/15 Total
131
92
124
88
7
4
13/14 League
75
48
67
44
6
4
13/14 UCL
16
22
15
22
1
0
13/14 Total
91
70
82
66
7
4
12/13 League
46
63
41
54
5
9
12/13 UCL
17
23
16
21
1
2
12/13 Total
63
86
57
75
6
11
11/12 League
92
60
83
50
9
10
11/12 UCL
32
24
31
23
1
1
11/12 Total
124
84
114
73
10
11
10/11 League
67
67
60
60
7
7
10/11 UCL
24
21
22
20
2
1
10/11 Total
91
88
82
80
9
8
09/10 League
65
75
58
74
7
1
09/10 UCL
20
9
19
8
0
1
09/10 Total
85
84
77
82
7
2
Totals
1387
890
1243
832
141
58
The data shows us that Leo Messi makes cosiderably more short key passes and long key passes than Cristiano Ronaldo, although the numbers were a lot more even during Ronaldo's early Real Madrid years.
Although we don't have the data before 2009/10, we can theorise that Ronaldo's key pass numbers at Manchester United would have been fairly similar to his early Madrid career (if not greater) due to having more involvement in build-up play.
Key Passes by Type
NOTE: a key pass can be multiple types (e.g. one key pass can be both a free kick and a cross)
-
Corner
Free Kick
Throw-in
Throughball
Cross
Other
Season / Comp
M Messi corner key passes
R Ronaldo corner key passes
M Messi free kick key passes
R Ronaldo free kick key passes
M Messi throw-in key passes
R Ronaldo throw-in key passes
M Messi throughball key passes
R Ronaldo throughball key passes
M Messi cross key passes
R Ronaldo cross key passes
M Messi other key passes
R Ronaldo other key passes
22/23 League
19
0
5
0
0
0
22
0
26
0
44
6
22/23 UCL
4
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
4
0
12
0
22/23 Total
23
0
5
0
0
0
25
0
30
0
56
6
21/22 League
5
0
1
0
0
0
10
1
6
0
45
26
21/22 UCL
1
0
0
0
0
0
4
0
2
2
7
7
21/22 Total
6
0
1
0
0
0
14
1
8
2
52
33
20/21 League
9
0
7
0
0
0
4
2
24
6
44
28
20/21 UCL
3
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
6
0
16
9
20/21 Total
12
0
9
0
0
0
4
2
30
6
60
37
19/20 League
8
0
8
0
0
0
16
1
15
5
53
45
19/20 UCL
1
0
1
1
0
0
3
0
1
2
12
2
19/20 Total
9
0
9
1
0
0
19
1
16
7
65
47
18/19 League
5
0
6
0
0
0
18
0
8
7
62
41
18/19 UCL
0
0
2
1
0
0
5
0
2
1
20
15
18/19 Total
5
0
8
1
0
0
23
0
10
8
82
56
17/18 League
4
0
4
0
0
0
11
3
6
5
67
30
17/18 UCL
0
0
1
0
0
0
3
2
1
0
13
13
17/18 Total
4
0
5
0
0
0
14
5
7
5
80
43
16/17 League
3
0
3
1
0
0
13
1
8
5
56
25
16/17 UCL
0
0
2
0
0
0
3
1
3
5
13
14
16/17 Total
3
0
5
1
0
0
16
2
11
10
69
39
15/16 League
4
0
5
0
0
0
17
0
10
3
49
48
15/16 UCL
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
5
8
17
15/16 Total
5
0
5
0
0
0
18
1
11
8
57
65
14/15 League
2
0
2
2
0
1
19
5
13
13
63
56
14/15 UCL
1
0
1
0
0
0
9
0
2
3
25
13
14/15 Total
3
0
3
2
0
1
28
5
15
16
88
69
13/14 League
3
0
5
2
0
0
6
1
8
7
62
39
13/14 UCL
0
0
1
0
0
0
4
2
1
0
11
19
13/14 Total
3
0
6
2
0
0
10
3
9
7
73
58
12/13 League
1
0
3
0
0
1
8
7
2
7
34
48
12/13 UCL
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
1
3
3
11
19
12/13 Total
1
0
3
0
0
1
11
8
5
10
45
67
11/12 League
5
0
6
0
0
0
34
12
10
15
45
33
11/12 UCL
1
0
1
0
0
0
9
1
2
2
21
21
11/12 Total
6
0
7
0
0
0
43
13
12
17
66
54
10/11 League
3
0
1
1
0
0
27
11
4
4
35
52
10/11 UCL
2
0
0
0
0
0
8
2
2
1
14
18
10/11 Total
5
0
1
1
0
0
35
13
6
5
49
70
09/10 League
4
0
5
0
0
0
21
2
12
11
31
62
09/10 UCL
0
0
1
0
0
0
3
0
1
0
19
9
09/10 Total
4
0
6
0
0
0
24
2
13
11
50
71
Totals
89
0
73
8
0
2
284
56
183
112
892
715
We can see that Messi makes a lot of key passes from dead-ball situations like corners and free kicks, whereas Ronaldo doesn't take corners and almost never attempts to assist from free kicks.
Messi also dominates the other key pass types, making around 200 more key passes from throughballs, 35 more key passes from crosses, and over 100 more key passes from "other" situations.
Set Piece / Open Play Key Passes
-
Total
Set Piece
Open Play
Season / Comp
MessiMessi total key passes
RonaldoRonaldo total key passes
MessiMessi set-piece key passes
RonaldoRonaldo set-piece key passes
MessiMessi open play key passes
RonaldoRonaldo open play key passes
22/23 League
93
6
24
0
69
6
22/23 UCL
19
0
4
0
15
0
22/23 Total
112
6
28
0
84
6
21/22 League
63
27
6
0
57
27
21/22 UCL
13
9
1
0
12
9
21/22 Total
76
36
7
0
69
36
20/21 League
77
36
16
0
61
36
20/21 UCL
23
9
5
0
18
9
20/21 Total
100
45
21
0
79
45
19/20 League
89
51
16
0
73
51
19/20 UCL
17
5
2
1
15
4
19/20 Total
106
56
18
1
88
55
18/19 League
92
48
11
0
81
48
18/19 UCL
27
17
2
1
25
16
18/19 Total
119
65
13
1
106
64
17/18 League
87
38
8
0
79
38
17/18 UCL
17
15
1
0
16
15
17/18 Total
104
53
9
0
95
53
16/17 League
79
31
6
1
73
30
16/17 UCL
19
20
2
0
17
20
16/17 Total
98
51
8
1
90
50
15/16 League
77
51
9
0
68
51
15/16 UCL
10
23
1
0
9
23
15/16 Total
87
74
10
0
77
74
14/15 League
95
76
4
3
91
73
14/15 UCL
36
16
2
0
34
16
14/15 Total
131
92
6
3
125
89
13/14 League
75
48
8
2
67
46
13/14 UCL
16
22
1
0
15
22
13/14 Total
91
70
9
2
82
68
12/13 League
46
63
4
1
42
62
12/13 UCL
17
23
0
0
17
23
12/13 Total
63
86
4
1
59
85
11/12 League
92
60
11
0
81
60
11/12 UCL
32
24
2
0
30
24
11/12 Total
124
84
13
0
111
84
10/11 League
67
67
4
1
63
66
10/11 UCL
24
21
2
0
22
21
10/11 Total
91
88
6
1
85
87
09/10 League
65
75
9
0
56
75
09/10 UCL
20
9
1
0
19
9
09/10 Total
85
84
10
0
75
84
Totals
1387
890
162
10
1225
880
As mentioned above, many of Messi's key passes come from set-piece situations, as he takes most of the corners and free kicks for his team. He has made over 100 more key passes from corners, free kicks or throw-ins than Cristiano.
Messi has also made over 200 more key passes from open play, but the numbers were a lot more even during Ronaldo's early seasons at Real Madrid.
All key pass stats are via Opta-powered WhoScored.
