Ilicic: How does Atalanta star compare to Messi and Ronaldo after four-goal haul?

Josip Ilicic smashed a couple of records as Atalanta surged into their first Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday.

Ilicic became the first player to score four goals in a Champions League knockout away game as high-flying Atalanta defeated Valencia 4-3.

The 32-year-old attacker also became the oldest player to score a hat-trick away from home in the Champions League – his stunning haul of five goals across two legs helping Atalanta complete an 8-4 aggregate triumph.

Ilicic – the jewel in Atalanta's crown – continues to take Italy and Europe by storm this season, but how does he stack up against Juventus superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona's Lionel Messi domestically and abroad?

We take a look at his 2019-20 Serie A and Champions League numbers using Opta stats.

 FOUR-GOAL HERO  #UCLMOTM

WHAT ELSE? #VCFAtalanta #UCL #Iličić #GoAtalantaGo  pic.twitter.com/D1a7upiY2x

— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) March 10, 2020

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE/LEAGUE

Games played
Ilicic: 7/21
Ronaldo: 7/22
Messi: 6/22

Goals
Ilicic: 5/15
Ronaldo: 2/21
Messi: 2/19

Penalties
Ilicic: 2/0
Ronaldo: 0/7
Messi: 0/3

Mins/Goal
Ilicic: 103.2/99.47
Ronaldo: 311/92.62
Messi: 240.5/99.47

Shot Conversion Rate (ex. Blocks)
Ilicic: 45.45/26.79
Ronaldo: 9.09/22.58
Messi: 10.53/23.75

Hat-tricks
Ilicic: 1/1
Ronaldo: 0/1
Messi: 0/3

Four or More Goals (inc. Hat-tricks)
Ilicic: 1/0
Ronaldo: 0/0
Messi: 0/1

Big Chance Conversion percentage
Ilicic: 80/70.59
Ronaldo: 66.67/68.18
Messi: 40/42.86

Assists
Ilicic: 0/5
Ronaldo: 0/3
Messi: 3/12

Dribbles Completed
Ilicic: 21/55
Ronaldo: 14/40
Messi: 47/118

Big Chance Created
Ilicic: 3/13
Ronaldo: 0/6
Messi: 7/22