Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi had eventful weeks for different reasons. The Argentine superstar made a heroic return from an injury to lead his team to a semifinals berth in the Champions league while his Portuguese counterpart dominated the opposition in both matches he played this past week.
Messi: Many questioned whether Messi would get a chance in the second leg of the quarterfinals against Paris Saint-Germain. He started the game on the bench and watched his team struggle to develop any major threatening scoring chances. With his team down and seemingly out, Messi came on the field and had an immediate impact. His nimbleness forced the PSG defense to widen and the new gaps enabled him to set up the eventual tying goal.
Ronaldo: Messi's mere presence helped Barcelona, but it was Ronaldo's goals that proved the difference for Madrid against Galatasaray. In a poor defensive display, it was the brace from the Portuguese star that ultimately pushed Madrid through to the semifinals. His first goal looked off-side, but his second was a tremendous strike inside the box. Against Bilbao, Ronaldo had a stellar header to give his team a 2-0 advantage. Setting up Gonzalo Higuain's goal was the icing on the cake for Ronaldo's fabulous week.
Stats through Week 30 of the 2012-13 season
Messi: 43 goals, 11 assists (8 goals, 2 assists in UCL; 2 goals in Spanish Super Cup; 4 goals in the Copa Del Rey)
Ronaldo: 31 goals, 7 assists (11 goals in UCL, 1 assist; 2 goals in Spanish Super Cup; 6 goals in the Copa Del Rey)
Goals in 2013
Messi: 22
Ronaldo: 27
Edge: Four goals to none. Ronaldo not only secured his team's passage to the Champions league semifinals when they needed a hero, but he also helped the team dominate Bilbao on Sunday. Messi had a major impact on the game against PSG, but was not as potent as Ronaldo proved to be.
Messi Leads 16-15 for the 2012-13 season.
Ronaldo has a 8-5 edge in 2013.
During week 5, both players earned a point for equally strong weeks. During week 10, neither earned a point for forgettable weeks.
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