Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo feels like an open-and-shut case as far as 2022 is concerned, but is that strictly the case?

With Messi confirmed not to be a part of Paris Saint-Germain‘s match-day squad for the Strasbourg clash, it duly means that the 35-year-old has appeared for the final time this year.

And the same can also be said for Ronaldo who remains unattached having parted ways with Manchester United on the back of his explosive interview with Piers Morgan

Messi vs Ronaldo: Who had the better year?

As such, we now have a full tank of data with which we can see who out of football’s eternal rivals came out on top with regards to 2022.

And while that might seem like the simplest question of all time on the back of Ronaldo’s ignominious Old Trafford exit and Messi’s spectacular World Cup win, lest we forget that it was actually the former who had the upper hand throughout the first half of the year.

Besides, you only have to look at the fact that Ronaldo finished 20th in the 2022 Ballon d’Or voting, while Messi wasn’t even nominated at all to establish that it’s not as straightforward as you might be picturing.

Messi vs Ronaldo: Who has better 2022 stats?

As such, here at GIVEMESPORT, we’re continuing our yearly tradition by crunching the numbers to find out who had the better statistics over the last 12 months: Ronaldo or Messi?

Using the ever-helpful data over at messivsronaldo.app, we’re able to give you all the key answers for 2022 in isolation from goals and assists to trophies won and hat-tricks scored.

So, without further ado, be sure to check out who wins the Ronaldo vs Messi debate as far as this year is concerned by checking out the most important figures down below:

Total goals

Lionel Messi 35-16 Cristiano Ronaldo

Total assists

Lionel Messi 30-4 Cristiano Ronaldo

Club goals

Lionel Messi 17-13 Cristiano Ronaldo

Minutes-per-goal in club football

Lionel Messi 189-200 Cristiano Ronaldo

International goals

Lionel Messi 18-3 Cristiano Ronaldo

Champions League goals

Lionel Messi 4-0 Cristiano Ronaldo

Non-penalty goals

Lionel Messi 29-13 Cristiano Ronaldo

Penalty goals

Lionel Messi 6-3 Cristiano Ronaldo

Hat-tricks

Cristiano Ronaldo 2-1 Lionel Messi

Free-kick goals

Lionel Messi 2-1 Cristiano Ronaldo

Goals from outside the box

Lionel Messi 7-2 Cristiano Ronaldo

Team trophies

Lionel Messi 4-0 Cristiano Ronaldo

Major individual trophies

Lionel Messi 2-1 Cristiano Ronaldo

Messi vs Ronaldo: Who wins in 2022?

Yup, despite enduring a difficult first season at the Parc des Princes, Messi has kicked on so much for club and country since the summer that the data makes for an absolute thrashing.

The World Cup winner has more goals, assists, clubs goals, international goals, Champions League goals, non-penalty goals, penalty goals, free-kick goals, outside-of-the-box goals, team trophies and individual trophies.

In all the years we’ve been running this feature, that’s by far and away the most convincing win that either player has secured with Ronaldo only coming out on top for hat-tricks scored.

So although 2023 is a new year and there’s still a chance that Ronaldo will continue to compete at the highest level, there’s good reason to believe that Messi is gaining a real stranglehold on this most eternal of debates.

After all, regardless of what the statistics might say, the simple fact of the matter is that Messi winning the World Cup will be enough for plenty of fans to close the conversation on its own.Source: givemesport