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In recent months the narrative that Messi only performs vs bottom sides has has begun to gain traction. I thought I’d see if his stats against top 6 sides gave any such indication... As proven in the thread below, it’s in fact the complete opposite:
Since 08/09, when Messi took up the number 10, he has played 8796 minutes (or 97 full matches) against teams that finished top 6 in a given season. In those ~97 matches, Messi has scored 103 goals and provided 32 assists (135 G/A). Good right?
This comes to a goal contribution every 65.2 minutes, or 1.38 per 90. To put these numbers into context, CR7 has 92 goals and 14 assists (106 G/A) in ~93 matches against top 6 teams in the same period = a goal contribution every 79.2 mins or 1.14 per 90.
To make sense of just how impressive Messi is against the very best sides, let’s compare his stats against just top 6 teams with Ronaldo and Lewandowski’s against all teams.
Ronaldo 
from 08/09 to 18/19 in league football has 350 goals and 110 assists in 30546 mins, ~ 339 games. This is a ratio of 1.36 G/A per 90.
from 08/09 to 18/19 in league football has 350 goals and 110 assists in 30546 mins, ~ 339 games. This is a ratio of 1.36 G/A per 90.
Lewandowski 
since his first 20 goal season (11/12) has 225 goals and 61 assists in 23903 mins, ~ 266 games, or 1.08 G/A per 90.
since his first 20 goal season (11/12) has 225 goals and 61 assists in 23903 mins, ~ 266 games, or 1.08 G/A per 90.
So, Messi since 08/09 contributes to goals against top 6 sides at a superior rate to not just anyone else against top 6 sides but to anyone else against ALL teams in their league (top 5 leagues).
If we look at stats only when Ronaldo was also playing in La Liga (between 09/10 and 17/18) there’s a similar outcome, with Messi contributing to more goals and at a higher rate.
How in the world is anyone calling him a statpadder or saying he doesn’t perform against top teams when he performs better against them than anyone else does against both top and bottom sides?? Rt to kill the myth (stats from http://transfermarkt.com )
I’ve neglected to use stats from this season as the top 6 aren’t yet confirmed, but Messi’s stats against the top 7 are as follows: 3G, 3A in 765 mins, 0.71 G/A per 90. This is uncharacteristically low, though higher than Ronaldo’s in Serie A (9G 1A in 1340 mins) or 0.67 per 90.
