DataSights 2.

0 - National Sports
Analytics Case Study Competition
Round 2

TEAM: WALCHAND COLLEGE

PLAYER OPTED FOR ANALYSIS: CRISTIANO
RONALDO (FOOTBALL)
General Context of Analysis

 In the Recent years, Cristiano Ronaldo has been slowing down

according to various football experts.
 In our analysis we are going to point out the facts that prove that
Ronaldo still is one of the best strikers and players in the world.
 He has the ability to bounce back and still has at least 2 seasons of
top notch football left in him.
 We have also considered the player’s mental attitude, as known all,
Cristiano Ronaldo has a ‘never give up’ mentality.
 Stats that prove Ronaldo’s decline
(STATS VIA FBREF.COM AND FOOTYSTATS.ORG)

GOALS/90 FROM 2013-2020 SHOTS ON TARGET/ 90 FROM 2013-2020

4
3.66
1.6
3.5
1.39
1.4
3.08
3
3
1.2 2.79
1.1
0.99 1.02
1 0.96 2.5
0.89 2.27
2.08 2.07
0.8 2
0.7

0.6
1.5

0.4
1
0.2

0.5
0
Goals/90
0
Shots_on_Target/90

2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20

2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20
 According to popular belief, Ronaldo hasn't done his job at Juve
and is "past his prime". But his individual stats point towards
something else. Here are some of the highlights
 1. Record top goal scorer for Juve in a single season- 36 goals in all
competitions (86 year old record broken).
 2. 16 goals scored in 11 consecutive matches (new record)
 3. 2019 Serie A Footballer of the year
 4. Most no. of knockout stage goals scored in UCL for Juve (7 goals)
 5. 1.23 (Goals+Assists)/match for Juventus, which is still way better
than an average striker.
 6. Highest no. of Goals (95) + Assists (22) for Juventus since his
arrival.
 7. Currently leading goal scorer in Serie A and second in European
golden shoe ranking.
What’s going wrong?

1. Mismatch of playing system:

The prominent reason is that he does not fit well into the system of
Juventus, not with Allegri or Sarri or even Pirlo.
They all had a mentality of playing out from the back , but Ronaldo
cannot thrive in that kind of gameplay. He prefers to press high just like
in Real Madrid.
For instance, when Juventus Vs Athletico Madrid (2nd leg UCL 2018-19),
They won 3-0 since they played attacking football right from the start,
and Ronaldo scored a hat-trick in that match.
2. Juventus is not a high goal-scoring team
Ronaldo is a goal scoring machine, Real Madrid made the most of that
but Juve haven't capitalized on that. Even though Ronaldo is the top
scorer he isn't close to being his best
Juventus averaged 1.97 goals per game in the three seasons Ronaldo
has spent at Juventus.
Real Madrid averaged 2.71 goals per game in last three seasons of
Ronaldo.
(STATS VIA FBREF.COM AND FOOTYSTATS.ORG)
  3. Lack of player support:
DECLINE IN GOAL & ASSISTS At Real Madrid or Portugal NT, he
FOR DYBALA AND PJANIC
Goals Assists Linear (Goals)
had players that compliment his
25 ability. In Madrid he had a great
22
partnership with Benezma.
At Juventus, the midfield at Juve do
20

not support Ronaldo as much as

15
when he was at Madrid with
11 11 Modric, Kross, Casemiro, Isco and
10
8
9
more.
7

5
5 5 5 5
4
6 6 6
From the graph it is clear that the
2
3 top 2 players at Juventus have
struggled since Ronaldo’s arrival
0
P. Pjanic P. Pjanic P. Pjanic P. Pjanic mainly due to incompatibility.
Dybala Dybala Dybala Dybala
2017-18 2016-17 2018-19 2019-20
(STATS VIA FBREF.COM AND FOOTYSTATS.ORG)
CONCLUSION
 Even though Ronaldo is far from his best, he is still the best player at
Juventus and one of the best in the world and the stats prove that.
 The only solution for him to return to his best is to find a team that
suits his playing style or will have to adapt to his current team.
 Teams like PSG, Liverpool, Real Madrid and Manchester United are
a perfect fit for Ronaldo.
 Thus, Cristiano Ronaldo may have lost form but he still has at least 2-
3 years of professional football. The test reports in his medical at
Juventus suggests that Cristiano’s body is that of a 22-23 year old.
So the physicality is definitely not a problem.
 (STATS VIA FBREF.COM AND FOOTYSTATS.ORG)