Data shows how Messi is totally bossing fierce rival Ronaldo in every department
LIONEL MESSI is bossing footballing rival Cristiano Ronaldo in every department, data shows.
Messi stunned Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk to win the FIFA Best Men’s Footballer of The Year Award in Milan.
The Barcelona legend also beat off competition from Juventus forward Ronaldo, who came third.
As the debate rages on between who truly is the world’s best player, CIES Football revealed stats between the two from their last 1,000 minutes.
Using data provided by OptaPro, the general performance index is computed from the statistics in six areas of the game: rigour, recovery, distribution, take on, chance creation and shooting.
Messi toppled Ronaldo in every department, earning an overall score of 91, compared to Ronaldo’s 84.
The Argentinian received 99 in shooting, take on and chance creation.
He scored 10 in rigour and recovery, as well as 80 in distribution.
Ronaldo totalled 83 in shooting, his best stat, 69 in take on and 62 in distribution.
The ex-Real Madrid star equalled Messi with 10 in rigour and recovery while getting 48 in chance creation.
It comes after Ronaldo snubbed Messi at the Fifa awards ceremony in Italy.
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The Barcelona star picked Sadio Mane as his top choice, with Ronaldo second and team-mate Frenkie de Jong his third pick.
But Ronaldo didn’t reciprocate the love – he went with Juve compatriot Matthijs De Ligt first followed by De Jong second and Kylian Mbappe third.
Van Dijk went with eventual winner Messi first, with team-mates Mo Salah second and Mane third.