Thursday, October 20, 2022

Remarkable statistics about Cristiano Ronaldo, the fading "one-dimensional player"

From an article about his anticipated role at the world cup:

Since 2010, he has taken roughly 400 more [shots] than Lionel Messi and 900 more than Robert Lewandowski — the two players who come closest, though not really close at all, to touching his tally

...

the lack of everything else became glaring. Over the past 365 days, according to FBref data, compared to his positional peers throughout the 98 clubs in Europe's big five leagues, Ronaldo ranks in the 43rd percentile in dribbles completed, in the 32nd percentile in assists, in the 9th percentile in tackles, and at the very bottom of the entire list in pressures.

He is some combination of unwilling and unable to press, and that's why Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag cannot use him. It's why the countless Champions League clubs to which he was offered did not want him. It's one of many reasons Juventus and United got worse after he arrived.