The Clasico by numbers: Why Lionel Messi is officially better than Cristiano Ronaldo
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Updated 24/04/2017 at 08:52 GMT
Eurosport, Opta, Squawka and ESPN have supplied the astonishing stats and facts after a record-breaking Clasico.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Image credit: Getty Images
Sunday night's spectacular game between Real Madrid and Barcelona saw records tumble. Lionel Messi reached new and even more astonishing heights, while Cristiano Ronaldo completed fewer passes over 90 minutes than the Barcelona goalkeeper.
Here are some of the most eye-catching statistics from a record-breaking evening in Madrid.
First, more milestones in the astonishing career of Messi...
1. Lionel Messi’s winner was his 500th career goal for Barcelona.
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Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring during the Spanish league Clasico football match Real Madrid CF vs FC Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on April 23, 2017.
Image credit: Getty Images
2. Messi reached the 500-goal mark younger and quicker than his rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
3. Ronaldo was 31 years and 313 days old; Messi was 29 years and 304 days. It took Messi 112 fewer games to reach 500.
4. Lionel Messi is now the all-time top-scorer in El Clasico in La Liga (15), surpassing Alfredo Di Stefano (14).
5. Messi’s brace ended a six-game scoreless streak in matches against Real Madrid.
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Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi celebrates a goal during the Spanish league football match Real Madrid CF vs FC Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on April 23, 2017.
Image credit: Getty Images
6. Messi's winning goal on Sunday came in the 92nd minute; the final quarter hour of matches is, by far, the period in which he scores the most goals.
7. Messi has scored more La Liga goals in the Clasico than any other player in history.
And now, interesting statistics from the entire game - and they make grim reading for Sergio Ramos.
But the one that is most mind-blowing? This was the first time Real Madrid have lost to a stoppage time winner at home... IN HISTORY!
1. Marc-Andre ter Stegen completed 22 passes during El Clasico; that's 8 more than Ronaldo managed.
2. Sergio Ramos’ red card was a record 22nd of his career and his fifth in games against Barcelona.
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Ramos, Messi
Image credit: Getty Images
3. Ramos has as many red cards for Real Madrid as Lionel Messi has goals against Real Madrid (22).
4. Ramos failed to win a single tackle or make an interception before being sent off in the 77th minute.
5. Ramos has been sent off five times in La Liga since 2013/14 – more than any other player in the league.
6. Barcelona are the first team to beat Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in La Liga since 27 February 2016.
7. Real Madrid’s loss ended a 22-game unbeaten run.
8. Luis Enrique is the 2nd Barcelona manager to win back-to-back La Liga games v Real Madrid at the Bernabeu after Pep Guardiola.
9. Marcelo has now recorded 9 assists in the league this season, more than any other defender in Europe's top five leagues.
10. Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s 12 saves against Real Madrid is the most he's ever made in a La Liga game for Barcelona.
11. Barcelona have now scored in 23 consecutive Clasico matches, breaking Real Madrid’s record that had stood since 1969.
12. Sunday’s defeat was the first time in Real Madrid’s history that they had ever lost a league game at home to an injury-time winner.
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