Lionel Messi kickstarted his 2016-17 season for Barcelona in an exemplary fashion, once again showing why he is arguably the best in the world.

People will point to that solo goal that gave his team a lead it would never relinquish, but the bottom line is that Messi's greatness came from the fact that he had a hand in every single goal that Barcelona scored.

He finished the match with two goals and one assist and is on pace for 76 goals. On the year, he has three goals and three assists, courtesy of scoring two assists and one goal in the Spanish Super Cup against Sevilla against both legs.

Ronaldo's status

Cristiano Ronaldo, his eternal rival and arguably the second best in the world, is the front-runner at the moment. He won the Champions League and eventually led Portugal to the Euro Championship a month later, but he is now nursing and injury and looks to be out of the next few weeks of action. He has been back in training and playing with the ball, so it is possible that he could get a chance to make his debut against Celta Vigo. That said, Zidane might want to keep him out until he is 100 percent.

Calendar Year Stats

Messi has played in 42 matches, has 37 goals and 26 assists on the year; 31 goals and 21 assists have come in 34 games for Barcelona.

Ronaldo has 32 goals and 11 assists in 35 matches this season; 26 of his goals and eight of his assists have come in 25 games for Real Madrid. Both players have had six goals for their country but Ronaldo has featured in 10 matches while Messi has only contested eight games for Argentina; he has five assists to Ronaldo's three.

Messi has won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup in 2016. Ronaldo has won the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup (though he did not participate in the match) and the Euro 2016 this year.

Year-End Projects

As of right now, Messi looks primed for a better season that his fierce rival. He has already matched his assist total for 2015. Ronaldo Is 25 goals behind his 2015 total.

That said, Ronaldo was behind Messi at the end of the summer in goals scored in 2015 and went on a run that saw him surpass the Argentine in far fewer matches. Do not be surprised if Ronaldo manages to catch Messi and overtake him.