article_snippet: That is the view of the number-crunchers at The Economist, who have calculated the worth of each player's goals, based on how crucial the goal was to the match result (and the subsequent gains from that result), as well as the importance of the game.
article_snippet: But Ronaldo's penalty against Atletico Madrid was virtually worthless, according to The Economist .
article_snippet: Each of Ronaldo’s 105 goals, however, were worth an average of 0.40 points to Messi’s (still fantastic) total of 86 goals over the period team in relation to the most likely result of the match before the goal was scored.
article_snippet: By contrast, Messi’s 86 goals were worth an average of 0.47 points each.
article_snippet: And if that sounds like gobbledegook, essentially this can be explained in simple terms: a goal in a match where the score is tied 1-1 in the final minutes yields more points (or aggregate value in cup ties) to his team than a goal scored in a match where the player's team is already winning 3-1.
article_snippet: The Economist uses Ronaldo’s three goals in the semi-final and final of last year’s Champions League as an example to show three goals in the semi-final and final of last year’s Champions League relative lack of value.
article_snippet: And in the final against Atletico Madrid, his penalty in extra-time when Madrid were 3-1 ahead had a virtually negligible value.