The 26-year-old has been at the center of widespread media and fan discussions in recent weeks, culminating in his announcement on Sunday that he will not extend his contract with Liverpool. His current deal runs out at the end of June 2025.
Real Madrid appears to be his next destination, with The Athletic reporting on Monday that the right-back is set to join the Spanish giants as a free agent. Sources in Spain suggest a six-year contract is close to being finalized. ..Continue Reading
In his statement, Alexander-Arnold explained that stepping outside his “comfort zone” was a key factor in his decision to leave the reigning Premier League champions.
Over the past three decades, several high-profile players—including Eden Hazard, Steven McManaman, Gareth Bale, and Michael Owen—have swapped English football for a fresh challenge in Madrid. However, Ronaldo’s 2009 move from Manchester United to Los Blancos remains the most iconic switch.
Despite Alexander-Arnold seemingly set to follow a similar path, he once made his stance clear in an interview with Oh My Goal in 2019, stating that Messi is “the best player of all time.”
In another interview with the Mirror back in 2024, Alexander-Arnold doubled down on his choice, he explained: “It has to be Messi for me, the best player I’ve played, for me the best player that’s ever played the game.”
The right-back added: “I never watched [Diego] Maradona, so I don’t know… to imagine anyone better than what I’ve been able to see… my brain doesn’t comprehend it, there’s no way anyone can be better.”
He continued: “There’s just a different feeling playing against him than I’ve ever felt with anyone else.
“You’re always on red alert when the ball’s near him, I think it’s very rare for a player to have that kind of feeling, to put that feeling into other players. So for that reason, I have to say him.
“For me, I think in many, many aspects of the game, he’s probably the best at any given moment. He can almost do what he wants on a football pitch, so yeah, for that reason, he’s the best.”
Despite admitting that Messi is the greatest of all time, Alexander-Arnold still has huge respect for Ronaldo, and so he should given the fact that the Portuguese is Real’s highest-ever goalscorer and greatest player.
“With Ronaldo being one of the greats, probably one of the best players ever, it’s going to be an honour to hopefully play against him,” Alexander-Arnold said ahead of the 2018 Champions League final, which Liverpool lost 3-1 against Madrid.
“You have to admit he’s [Cristiano Ronaldo] an unbelievable player and he’s done exceptional things in the game,” he added. “The numbers that he does season in, season out are absolutely unbelievable.
“I know a lot about him and the likes of Messi because I watched them on YouTube growing up. You always watch those type of players. But you’ve just got to focus on the game and, if he’s a direct opponent, you have to see what the strengths and weaknesses are and use them to your advantage.”
Ronaldo and his teammates competed in the tournament’s final rounds in Saudi Arabia, where the top Asian clubs battled through the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final in a tightly scheduled week of matches. ..Continue Reading
After dominant performances from Ronaldo, Sadio Mane, and Jhon Duran helped Al Nassr secure a decisive victory over Yokohama F. Marinos—who currently sit at the bottom of the J1 League following the dismissal of former England assistant coach Steve Holland—the Saudi side faced another Japanese opponent in the semi-finals.
Kawasaki Frontale, the lone non-Saudi team in the last four, proved too strong for Al Nassr, securing a 3-2 win and advancing to Saturday’s final against Al Ahli.
Ronaldo had two chances to equalize in stoppage time. His first opportunity—a free kick—was denied by Kawasaki goalkeeper Louis Yamaguchi, and his second was a clear scoring chance after dribbling past Yamaguchi, only to be denied by Asahi Sasaki’s impressive goal-line defense.
Given Ronaldo’s pedigree, the miss was unexpected, and his reaction spoke volumes.
They knocked Ronaldo out of the AFC Champions League and my G started speaking to ghosts! ???????? pic.twitter.com/UM9dYluZEG
Standing in the middle of King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, the 40-year-old appeared to analyze his mistake, visibly frustrated, gesturing and even mimicking the left-footed strike he felt he should have used to force extra time.
Earlier in the match, Kawasaki took the lead with a spectacular volley from Tatsuya Ito, though Mane quickly leveled the score.
Goals from Yuto Ozeki and club legend Akihiro Ienaga put the J.League side 3-1 ahead with just 15 minutes remaining, but Ayman Yahya’s deflected shot reignited Al Nassr’s hopes.
Ronaldo’s late opportunity ultimately went unconverted, sealing Al Nassr’s exit as Stefano Pioli’s squad fell short.
Since joining the Saudi club in 2023, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has yet to claim a trophy in either domestic or AFC competition.
The debate between Mohamed Salah vs Cristiano Ronaldo Premier League Stats has often been fueled by passion, nostalgia, and loyalty. This article, however, sets aside the overall career legacies of these two stars and focuses solely on their Premier League contributions. Using verified statistics from their stints in England—Ronaldo’s time at Manchester United and Salah’s tenure at Liverpool—we present a logical and numbers-based comparison that lets the data speak for itself.
The Metrics & Limits
To keep the analysis fair and focused, we are comparing only the Premier League records of both players. By excluding data from LaLiga, Serie A, or other competitions, we remove the influence of different playing styles, opposition levels, and tactical systems across leagues. This approach allows us to concentrate on what each player has achieved in one of the world’s most competitive and physically demanding leagues.
Our analysis revolves around several key metrics: the number of appearances, goals scored, assists provided, total minutes played, goals per game, minutes per goal, and overall goal involvement per 90 minutes. One metric that often sparks debate is “big chances created” — an indicator of a player’s creative contribution by generating high-quality goal-scoring opportunities. For context, official data shows that while Cristiano Ronaldo created 7 big chances during his Manchester United era, Mohamed Salah has created a staggering 129 big chances for Liverpool in the Premier League.
Salah vs Ronaldo Premier League Stats Analysis
When we look at the raw numbers, the differences become immediately apparent. Cristiano Ronaldo made 236 Premier League appearances for Manchester United, accumulating 17,533 minutes on the pitch. During that period, he scored 103 goals and registered 37 assists, averaging roughly 0.44 goals per game. In comparison, Mohamed Salah’s record at Liverpool includes 292 appearances and 23,323 minutes played. Salah’s numbers shine further with 184 goals and 86 assists, equating to an average of 0.63 goals per game. This means that Salah finds the net more frequently and also contributes more to his team’s overall attacking output.
A useful way to visualize these differences is by considering the number of minutes each player requires to score a goal. Ronaldo averaged about one goal every 170 minutes, while Salah’s efficiency stands at approximately one goal every 127 minutes. When combined with their assist records, Salah’s overall goal involvement per 90 minutes is significantly higher than Ronaldo’s in the Premier League. This stark contrast forms the backbone of our analysis.
To summarize these comparisons, consider the following table:
Metric
Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd)
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Appearances
236
292
Minutes Played
17,533
23,323
Goals Scored
103
184
Assists
37
86
Goals per Game
0.44
0.63
Minutes per Goal
~170
~127
Big Chances Created
7
129
These numbers do more than simply display raw statistics; they tell a story of differing roles and contributions in the Premier League. While Ronaldo was known for his direct, clinical finishing at Manchester United, Salah’s game at Liverpool has been defined not only by his prolific scoring but also by his creative prowess. Salah’s high number of big chances created illustrates his integral role in building attacks and creating opportunities for his teammates—a dimension that Ronaldo’s Premier League numbers do not capture nearly as well.
Critical Evaluation – Questions Asked
This analysis naturally raises several thought-provoking questions. If some argue that Ronaldo’s overall career achievements are unparalleled, how do they address the fact that, when compared solely on Premier League records, Salah’s numbers suggest a higher scoring frequency and more creative output? Is it fair to compare a player’s global legacy with league-specific performance, or should we recognize that the Premier League represents a unique environment that highlights different strengths?
Another important consideration is the context in which these numbers were generated. The roles played by each star were shaped by the tactical systems at their respective clubs. Manchester United’s style during Ronaldo’s tenure might have limited his opportunity to create big chances, whereas Liverpool’s attacking philosophy has allowed Salah to flourish both as a scorer and a creator. Thus, one might ask: to what extent does a player’s environment influence these metrics? And if a player’s role is tailored to maximize their strengths, does that not deserve recognition in a fair comparison?
Lastly, these statistics prompt us to ponder the relationship between volume and impact. While Ronaldo’s lower big chance creation figure might seem underwhelming compared to Salah’s, his overall record—including pivotal goals in high-pressure situations—remains impressive. Yet, when evaluating pure Premier League performance, Salah’s numbers provide a compelling case for his remarkable influence on the game.
Logic Over Emotion
One of the common arguments from Ronaldo fans is that his overall career accomplishments and his ability to change the outcome of a match in critical moments should overshadow the raw numbers. However, by narrowing our lens to Premier League stats, the debate shifts. In this context, the data suggests that Salah has not only been more efficient in scoring but also more consistent in his creative contributions.
For instance, consider the discrepancy in big chances created: while Ronaldo’s 7 big chances may be viewed as a byproduct of his finishing-focused role, Salah’s 129 big chances underscore his dual-threat capability. The numbers force us to ask, how can one reconcile a player who excels in finishing with another who consistently builds attacking opportunities? And if we consider minutes per goal and overall involvement, Salah’s higher figures challenge any claim that Ronaldo’s record at Manchester United was the gold standard in the Premier League.
Moreover, the context of their appearances must be considered. Salah’s role at Liverpool involves more touches and creative freedom in a system designed to maximize his output, while Ronaldo’s contribution, although significant, was more limited in a different tactical setup. Does this mean one player is inherently better, or that their contributions are uniquely suited to their teams? The numbers suggest that, at least in the Premier League, Salah’s overall impact on his team’s attacking play has been more substantial.
Conclusion
Ultimately, this comparison of Salah vs Ronaldo Premier League Stats invites readers to reflect on what truly defines excellence in one of the world’s toughest leagues. The figures reveal that Mohamed Salah, with his higher goals per game, superior scoring efficiency, and outstanding creative contributions—particularly the big chances created—has left an indelible mark on the Premier League. Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo’s achievements at Manchester United remain impressive in their own right but, when viewed through the narrow lens of league-specific statistics, present a very different narrative.
By asking the right questions—about context, role, and the nature of impact—this analysis encourages a balanced discussion that goes beyond overall career accolades. In the end, the numbers provide a logical framework for comparison that challenges us to appreciate the unique contributions of both players while recognizing that, in the Premier League, Mohamed Salah’s record stands out as exceptionally prolific and creatively influential.
The debate may never be conclusively resolved, but by focusing solely on Premier League data, we offer a fresh perspective on two of football’s modern icons. Whether you lean toward Ronaldo’s legendary status or appreciate Salah’s record-breaking output, the truth remains that both have shaped the league in remarkable ways—each in their own distinct manner.