Messi and Fernandes both earned their perfect scores with a hat-trick and an assist for another goal. Major League Soccer, where the Argentine plays for Inter Miami, even credited him with four goals, although his free kick was deflected in by a defending player, making the goalkeeper’s job significantly harder. As a result, most statisticians recorded it as an own goal.
Messi also hit the post, had six shots on target and created three big chances.
Last autumn, wearing the Miami shirt, he collected three perfect 10s, including one after 'just' two goals and an assist. However, that was still under the previous rating model; the new one is more sophisticated and stricter. Messi became the first player in the American league to achieve the maximum rating under the updated system.
In terms of competition quality, Fernandes’s performance is even more valuable, as he was rated a 10 in the Premier League, considered the best league in the world.
In the current rating, only Eberechi Eze from Arsenal has reached the top mark, for his hat-trick last November against Tottenham. He also made an impact off the ball, winning possession four times.
And that’s exactly what the new rating system is about - a 10 usually signifies a truly supreme and exceptional performance.
“Basically, it means that the individual must deliver a dominant performance and at the same time have an extremely significant impact on the team’s victory. Scoring goals, adding assists (especially for big chances), and excelling in other aspects as well,” explains Flashscore data expert Daniel Musil, who contributed to the development of the rating system.
How is the new rating calculated?
Ratings from last season are now being recalculated according to the new model, so it’s possible that Messi will lose one of his 10s. Specifically, the one where he had two goals and an assist, but also lost possession 18 times.
The criteria are now so strict that only a handful of perfect 10s will be awarded throughout the season. Fernandes impressed against Ipswich not only with his goal contributions but also with his creativity. He completed four crosses, two through balls, seven passes into the box, and set up a goal.
Who will be the next to follow in the footsteps of this brilliant duo?
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