Few debates in football history have been as captivating—or as divisive—as the rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Their extraordinary careers have sparked countless discussions, fuelled by emotions, preference for a team, and national pride. The fact that they played for FC Barcelona and Real Madrid made the rivalry even fiercer. For some, Messi’s creativity, finesse and pure talent define greatness; for others, Ronaldo’s athleticism, work ethic and goal-scoring prowess make him the ultimate footballer. But how can such a subjective debate ever find an objective answer?

Sportmonks brings clarity to this passionate discussion by harnessing the power of data analytics. With access to an extensive array of metrics, we move beyond the usual arguments to uncover the details that truly set these two players apart. Our approach includes tracking their contributions in critical matches, measuring advanced metrics, and evaluating consistency over time and across various leagues. By leveraging our data, fans and analysts can examine their greatness with unparalleled precision.

This article will explore key categories in the Messi vs Ronaldo debate:

Goals and assists: Who consistently delivers in front of the goal and supports their teammates?
Advanced metrics: Beyond traditional stats, how do deep stats shape the debate?
Big-match performances: Which player steps up under pressure?
Adaptability: How have Messi and Ronaldo adjusted to different tactical systems, leagues, and teams?

By approaching this legendary rivalry with a data-driven lens, Sportmonks ensures an objective and comprehensive comparison—offering football fans a fresh perspective on what defines greatness.

Het bericht Settling the GOAT Debate Using Sportmonks Data to Crown Football’s Greatest of All Time verscheen eerst op Sportmonks.

Artificial Intelligence is revolutionising football, bridging the gap between data and action in real-time. By delivering real-time statistics and predictive insights, AI is empowering both fans and teams to experience the game in ways that were unimaginable a decade ago. For fans, AI creates interactive experiences—like live match tracking, personalised content, and predictive analytics—that enhance their connection to their favourite teams. Meanwhile, professional teams are harnessing AI to analyse player performance, predict injury risks, and optimise strategies during crucial game moments.

AI isn’t just a tool for tech enthusiasts. It’s reshaping the football landscape for everyone, from casual supporters to elite clubs. Fans enjoy smarter decisions in their fantasy leagues or betting strategies, while teams rely on AI-driven insights to make informed decisions on the pitch. By transforming vast amounts of data into actionable insights, AI has become an integral part of the sports industry.

At the forefront of this transformation is Sportmonks, a trusted leader in AI-driven football data. Sportmonks’ innovative solutions provide real-time updates, detailed insights, and predictive analytics tailored for fans and teams. Whether it’s understanding player statistics or gaining strategic advantages during matches, Sportmonks ensures that the future of football is both accessible and impactful.

As football evolves, AI is driving a technological revolution—one that benefits everyone passionate about the beautiful game.

Het bericht How AI is Transforming the Live Football Experience for Fans and Teams verscheen eerst op Sportmonks.

The FIFA Club World Cup API is a powerful tool for bringing the intensity and global excitement of the FIFA Club World Cup to digital platforms. This API grants developers access to real-time match data, team statistics, player profiles, and live events for the 32 participating clubs. As the 2025 tournament rolls out with a new format featuring teams from all six continents, this API becomes essential for any platform aiming to offer comprehensive and immediate coverage for fans.

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, held in the USA across June and July, is set to be a milestone. It will feature a format mirroring the FIFA World Cup, with 32 clubs in eight groups leading into knockout rounds. The tournament’s expansion has gathered the best global club football, featuring high-profile teams who either qualified through the champions pathway or the ranking pathway.

Participating clubs and their legacy

Among the 12 European clubs, Real Madrid enters as the record holder with five titles, participating for the seventh time. Chelsea, winners of the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League, will compete in their third Club World Cup after a title in 2021 and a second-place finish in 2012. Manchester City, UEFA Champions League winners in 2022-23, enter their second tournament following their first title last year. Bayern Munich qualified through the UEFA ranking and joined for a third time after winning in 2013 and 2020. Other European participants for the new-look Club World Cup who qualified through club coefficients include Paris Saint-Germain, Internazionale (winners in 2010), Porto, Benfica, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Atlético Madrid, and Red Bull Salzburg.

From South America, top CONMEBOL teams like Palmeiras (2021 Copa Libertadores winners and third-time entrants), Flamengo (2022 Copa Libertadores winners and third-time entrants), Fluminese (2023 Copa Libertadores winners), River Plate, Boca Juniors and Copa Libertadores winner 2024 Botafogo will compete. Previous winners from South America who did not qualify include Corinthians and São Paulo FC.

Africa’s clubs, renowned for their dynamic play, include Al Ahly (three-time CAF Champions League winners and making their tenth appearance), Wydad AC from Morocco, Espérance Tunis from Tunisia, and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns.

Al Hilal represents Asia from Saudi Arabia (2021 AFC Champions League winners), Urawa Red Diamonds from Japan, Al Ain FC from the UAE, and Ulsan Hyundai from South Korea. These teams bring growing competitiveness from the AFC region.

North and Central America’s clubs include Monterrey (2021 CONCACAF Champions League winners and five-time entrants), Club León, Pachuca, the Major League Soccer team Seattle Sounders, and Inter Miami CF, the host country’s choice.

Oceania is represented by Auckland City FC, record-holders with 12 appearances and a third-place finish in 2014.

Past FIFA Club World Cup winners who did not qualify this year include European clubs like FC Barcelona, AC Milan, Liverpool, and Manchester United.

Stadiums across the USA

The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will be held in some of the USA’s most iconic stadiums:

• MetLife Stadium (New York/New Jersey)

• Rose Bowl Stadium (Pasadena, CA)

• Lumen Field (Seattle, WA)

• Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia, PA)

• Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, GA)

• Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, NC)

• Hard Rock Stadium (Miami, FL)

• Camping World Stadium (Orlando, FL)

• Inter&Co Stadium (Orlando, FL)

• Geodis Park (Nashville, TN)

• TQL Stadium (Cincinnati, OH)

• Audi Field (Washington, DC)

These venues for this 21st edition will witness the top clubs from every corner of the world compete for the title, delivering unforgettable experiences for both local fans and the global audience.

The FIFA Club World Cup API empowers developers to enhance platforms with real-time updates, player stats, and historical insights. Whether building a live score app, betting platform, or fan engagement site, this API ensures fans stay connected to every play, making it the ultimate tool for creating a truly immersive experience for followers of this prestigious tournament.

Het bericht FIFA Club World Cup API verscheen eerst op Sportmonks.

What are player ratings?

Player ratings are a numerical representation of a footballer’s performance during a match. They condense complex statistics into an easily digestible score, helping users evaluate players at a glance. From pinpointing the stars of the game to identifying areas for improvement, player ratings are indispensable for understanding and analysing football.

At Sportmonks, we’ve taken this concept to the next level by creating a system that’s not only comprehensive but also incredibly reliable.

Het bericht Sportmonks Player Ratings: A Game-Changing Feature in Football Analytics verscheen eerst op Sportmonks.

Ball tracking technology brings a new dimension to understanding the dynamics of soccer. Using ball sensors and optical tracking gives you insights beyond basic stats, including real-time tracking of ball coordinates and movements. This connected ball technology transforms the official match ball into a data-rich source, helping teams and leagues analyse each soccer ball interaction with pinpoint accuracy.

Het bericht Ball coordinates verscheen eerst op Sportmonks.

People assume that the most prominent attacking players will always be favoured in our data-driven predictions because they score a lot and give the most assists. But that is not the case. All data included in the API is considered. For example, defending teams and players’ statistics are also essential to predict a match. We have created an AI prediction model that has been trained based on many matches.

The Prediction API accurately predicts the outcomes of future football matches, considering various factors such as team form, player injuries, head-to-head records, and more. We also incorporate the player contribution model, which further enhances the accuracy of the predictions:
“By analysing the performance of individual players and their impact on the team, we can better understand how they’ll contribute to the match’s final outcome. This model considers various metrics such as the player’s recent form, position, and contribution to the team’s overall performance.”

“Yes, I want to increase the chances of beating bookmakers!”

Alright, let’s find out how the API can help you predict one of the biggest rivalries in football.

As you know, APIs can be complex, so we need to investigate to ensure you can use the API’s endless options to make your predictions more secure.

Het bericht El Clásico head-to-head and favourite to win based on Sportmonks data verscheen eerst op Sportmonks.

• Expected goals (xG)
• Expected goals on target (xGoT)
• Expected non-penalty goals (npxG)
• Expected goals open play (xGOP)
• Expected goals set play (xGSP)
• Expected goals corners (xGC)
• Expected goals free kicks (xGFK)
• Expected goals penalty (xGP)
• Expected points (xPTS)
• Expected goals against (xGA)
• Expected goals prevented (xGP)
• Expected goals difference (xGD)
• Shooting performance (SP)
• Expected points table
• Over/underperformance players
• Over/underperformance team

In addition to the added xG statistics, over 65 statistics were improved or newly implemented in our Statistics API. Most speak for themselves; however, we will use this blog to explain them.

Het bericht New statistics added to our API verscheen eerst op Sportmonks.

Sportmonks is a fast-growing startup specialising in sportsdata. We provide customers worldwide access to the best sports data, which they can use for their sports websites or apps. From live scores and fantasy games to odds websites and countless other applications, our API supports it all. It’s no surprise that brands like City Group, RedBull Leipzig, RedBull Racing, and the Dutch Football Association (KNVB) have long been part of the Sportmonks community.

We started as enthusiasts in a small room in 2016. Just like you, we’re passionate about sports and data, and we wanted to turn our passions into our careers. We’ve since grown into one of the top international players in the sports data market. Based in the Netherlands with a global team of remote employees, we work together to provide the best sports data for our clients. Would you like to know more about us? Please visit our “About us page”.

“I’ve learned a lot at Sportmonks. They’ve always supported me well, and I still enjoy working here.” – Milan Weiss

Why Work at Sportmonks?

Our team consists of real team players who are all passionate about their work. Our developers are true professionals who also create a friendly, collaborative atmosphere. We work closely together with short communication lines, ensuring everyone’s voice is heard. Although we have multiple offices in the Netherlands, this is a fully remote role, allowing you to work from home or wherever suits you best.

We have over 30,000 clients in the sports data world with a global reach of millions of people, all relying on our knowledge and applications. You will be responsible for delivering the best data in the industry!

“Sportmonks offers a great environment with a fun team where you feel welcome in the company immediately—even while working remotely.” – David Perez

Het bericht Score Your Full-Time Remote Position as full stack developer at Sportmonks verscheen eerst op Sportmonks.

That is an understandable thought. But you know what? The data isn’t bad at all. We have RedBull Racing and McLaren as customers for the Formula 1 data, CityGroup, RedBull Leipzig and the KNVB (Dutch Football Association) as customers for our Football API. Would they use our data if it were only half decent? Of course, they became paying customers and expanded their coverage with more leagues than included in the free plan. After trying out the free plan, you can always decide to scale up or stay with the free plan and create your app/website for free. We dare to claim we are the best free sports API for developers around. By the way, it is not the case that premium sports data is way more expensive. The free plan has standard data features. Sportmonks divided all data features into basic, standard and advanced packages. With standard, you already have many great features. The data in the free plan is enough for any sports application.

“APIs are way too complex”

Fair enough, APIs can be complex. But I mentioned above that it is really easy to get the data easily, and I mean it. I have no developer knowledge whatsoever (I am writing blogs), and I can pull every data point from the APIs. How is that possible? Sportmonks focussed on having an easy-to-use API. We wanted to be as developer-friendly as possible, which is why we have created a couple of features for you to customise the API response exactly to your liking. Furthermore, we have focussed on building clear documentation for everyone to understand. No advanced programming skills are required.

To make it even better, you can use it in your preferred programming language. Yes, it is compatible with all programming languages!

Het bericht Get started with Sportmonks: the best free sports api for developers verscheen eerst op Sportmonks.

The concept of Fan engagement refers to how organisations, sports teams, or brands interact with and involve their audience to build a deeper emotional connection and maintain interest. In the context of football (soccer), fan engagement encompasses various activities and strategies aimed at enhancing the experience of sports fans and encouraging their active participation with their favourite sports teams or players.

The goal of fan engagement is simple: to build bigger fan loyalty via fan interactions, a deeper level of trust and meaningful connections.

Het bericht Enhancing Fan Engagement: A Guide for Football App and Website Owners verscheen eerst op Sportmonks.