A brand new study has claimed that Lionel Messi is actually double the player of longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
But fans have never been able to settle who is the better player of the two, but a SciSports study in collaboration with Universidad Catolica in Belgium could finally end the debate.
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Per SoccerLaduma, the study shows that between 2013 and 2018, Barcelona captain Messi was actually performing at twice the level of Portuguese forward Ronaldo.
Both men were at the peak of their careers in that time and both were in La Liga, before Ronaldo departed Real Madrid for Juventus in summer 2018.
The research values a player based on their goals and assists in that period and despite Ronaldo's slew of trophies, Messi earned 1.21 on the test, while Ronaldo scored just 0.61.
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Not to worry if you're confused, as professor Jesse Davies delved into the numbers and explained: "A goal is a rare event, however, because an average of 1,600 actions are estimated to occur in a match. Our model looks at each action - shots, passes, dribbles, tackles - and calculates its value."
It's a shock result considering Ronaldo's Champions League dominance with Real Madrid in that time period as well as his Euro 2016 triumph with Portugal.
Both men returned to action this past week after coronavirus temporarily halted the footballing season and they endured very different comebacks.
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Ronaldo missed a penalty in a 0-0 draw with AC Milan on Friday as Juventus advanced to the Coppa Italia final.
Meanwhile, Messi assisted two and scored one himself as Barcelona demolished Mallorca 4-0 to remain top of La Liga.
One fan even created a compilation of both men's highlights stating 'the levels are staggering'.
What is clear is that both men are world class footballers and are likely in the twilight of their careers, meaning we should enjoy them both no matter your personal preference.
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Who do you think is better out of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi?
Let us know in the comments below.
Featured Image Credit: PA ImagesTopics: Football News, Football, Barcelona, Lionel Messi, Juventus, Cristiano Ronaldo