Alexander Ovechkin made his NHL debut at the age of 20. In his first season, he scored 106 points, and in the next four seasons, he scored around 100. Connor McDavid came to the NHL at the age of 19. He immediately scored over a point per game (due to injury, he played only 45 games, so the total score is not impressive). Only in one of the eight following seasons did Connor score less than 100 points. The reason for this statistical drop was the 2019/20 season, which was interrupted.
The same Ovechkin and McDavid, the fastest and most dynamic forwards of their generations, have only won one trophy together – Owi with the Capitals at the age of 32. Sasha has reached his 30th birthday without a trophy. In January 2025, McDavid will turn 28 – he will still not have a championship ring. This situation would be less surprising if it weren’t for the sons of Mom’s friend, a soccer superstar.
Lionel Messi entered the big game fully at the age of 17. By the time he was 25, he had a bag of trophies, including three for winning the Champions League (which is comparable in status to the Stanley Cup). Cristiano Ronaldo started his career at 17. By the time he was 25, he had about the same bag of awards – including one Champions League win. And when Owi, the same age as Ronaldo, lifted the Stanley Cup over his head, Cristiano had already won five LM.
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Five. We’re talking about superstars here – players of undeniable talent and obvious effectiveness who have been great for many years. We look at the statistics and see that Ovechkin and McDavid are better than everyone else in hockey about as much as Messi and Ronaldo are in soccer. So why do they have only one Cup out of two by 2024?
Hockey (especially in the NHL) and football are completely different sports
Table of Contents
- 0.1 Hockey (especially in the NHL) and football are completely different sports
- 0.2 Greats at 24 years old
- 1 But it highlights the differences in how individual performance translates to team success in hockey versus soccer.
- 2 That influence team success. Understanding these nuances allows for a more accurate comparison of player achievements across different sports.
Table of Contents
Let’s not forget the most important thing: hockey and football are different sports. Let’s deconstruct our trophy expectations for McDavid and Ovechkin. It’s basically inertia after the achievements of Messi and Ronaldo. We look at the statistics of hockey superstars, find them similar to Messi’s (Leo has a 50-goal season, although Ovechkin has more) and think that this impressive efficiency must translate into trophies.
This notion breaks down when you look at it more closely and get specific. Trophies aren’t awarded for exceeding a certain threshold of performance. Trophies are the result of a distance over which a team wins a large number of individual games. The playoffs and the regular season are organized differently in terms of rules, but the essence is the same: if you want to win a trophy, win games more often than everyone else.
NHL Alex Ovechkin and Lionel Messi
This means that for superstars to win trophies, their effectiveness must materialize in victories in specific matches. And at this stage, against Ovechkin and McDavid, his hockey height and the technical basis of the best game on ice come out. Let me remind you briefly: we are dealing with a more intense game than football: a smaller playing field, higher speeds, and there are many more events.
That is: the average efficiency is higher, and the contribution of superstars is not as noticeable. I will show this in the table. I calculated the contribution of 24-year-old Messi, Ronaldo, Ovechkin and McDavid to the achievements of their teams. The numbers came out quite a lot, so I left only the key ones – the average efficiency of players in the leagues (domestic for Messi-Ronaldo and regular season for Ovechkin-McDavid), the percentage of the team’s total goals and the average efficiency of specific competitions.
Greats at 24 years old
Player Season Goals per match % of team goals Average match result Messi 2011/12 1.35 44% 2.76 Ronaldo 2008/09 0.54 26% 2.48 Ovechkin 2009/10 0.69 16% 5.68 McDavid 2020/21 0.59 18% 5.87
Look what came out. The sample included a season with 50+ goals for Messi. It’s not
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But it highlights the differences in how individual performance translates to team success in hockey versus soccer.
Why the Greatest Hockey Players, Like Ovechkin and McDavid, Lag Behind Soccer Superstars in Trophies
The world of sports is filled with incredible athletes who dominate their respective fields. In hockey, Alexander Ovechkin and Connor McDavid are considered two of the greatest players of their generation, with impressive statistics to back up their claims. Meanwhile, in soccer, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are widely regarded as the best players of their time, with an almost unparalleled collection of trophies and accolades. But why do hockey’s greatest players seem to lag behind their soccer counterparts when it comes to winning championships?
Hockey and Soccer: Different Sports, Different Expectations
One key factor to consider is that hockey and soccer are fundamentally different sports with distinct rules, strategies, and requirements. While Ovechkin and McDavid are undeniably talented players, their impressive statistics don’t necessarily translate to trophies in the same way that Messi and Ronaldo’s do. In hockey, a team’s success is dependent on a multitude of factors, including goaltending, defense, and team chemistry, which can dilute the impact of a single superstar player.
Trophies Require More Than Just Individual Brilliance
Unlike soccer, where a single goal can decide a game, hockey is a more intense, fast-paced sport with a smaller playing field and a higher volume of scoring opportunities. As a result, the average efficiency of players is higher in hockey, which means that even the greatest players like Ovechkin and McDavid can’t dominate games in the same way that Messi and Ronaldo do in soccer.
Comparing the Greats at 24 Years Old
To illustrate this point, let’s compare the statistics of Messi, Ronaldo, Ovechkin, and McDavid at the age of 24:
| Player | Season | Goals per match | % of team goals | Average match result |
| — | — | — | — | — |
| Messi | 2011/12 | 1.35 | 44% | 2.76 |
| Ronaldo | 2008/09 | 0.54 | 26% | 2.48 |
| Ovechkin | 2009/10 | 0.69 | 16% | 5.68 |
| McDavid | 2020/21 | 0.59 | 18% | 5.87 |
As you can see, even in their dominant seasons, Ovechkin and McDavid don’t quite match the level of dominance displayed by Messi and Ronaldo. This isn’t to say that they’re not great players,
That influence team success. Understanding these nuances allows for a more accurate comparison of player achievements across different sports.
The Great Paradox: Why Hockey Superstars Like Ovechkin and McDavid Lack Trophies Compared to Soccer Counterparts
The world of sports is filled with incredible talents, but some stand out more than others. Alexander Ovechkin and Connor McDavid are two of the most dynamic and dominant forwards in the National Hockey League (NHL). With impressive statistics and countless accolades, they are often compared to soccer superstars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. However, a puzzling discrepancy exists between their trophy cabinets. Despite their incredible individual performances, Ovechkin and McDavid have only one Stanley Cup championship between them, whereas Messi and Ronaldo have amassed a plethora of titles. What explains this disparity?
Hockey (especially in the NHL) and football are completely different sports
One crucial factor to consider is that hockey and football are fundamentally distinct sports. The inertial thinking that equates individual brilliance in one sport with similar success in another is misleading. Hockey and football have different rules, strategies, and requirements for team success. It’s essential to acknowledge these differences when evaluating the performances of Ovechkin, McDavid, Messi, and Ronaldo.
Greats at 24 years old
Ovechkin made his NHL debut at 20, scoring 106 points in his first season, while McDavid entered the league at 19, scoring over a point per game. Messi, on the other hand, entered the professional soccer scene at 17, and by 25, he had already won three Champions League titles. Cristiano Ronaldo started his career at 17 and had a similar haul of trophies by his mid-twenties. This comparison highlights the difference in pace and trajectory between hockey and football superstars.
But it highlights the differences in how individual performance translates to team success in hockey versus soccer
The critical distinction lies in how individual brilliance translates to team success. In hockey, even the most skilled players are part of a cohesive unit that must work together to achieve victory. In the NHL, playoff success often hinges on factors like team defense, goaltending, and depth scoring, making it more difficult for a single player to dominate. In contrast, soccer is a more individual-centric sport, where a single player can have a more significant impact on the outcome of a match.
Winning games, not individual accolades
Trophies are awarded for winning a high number of games, not for accumulating individual stats. To lift the Stanley Cup or Champions League title, a team must consistently perform well over a prolonged period. While Ovechkin and McDavid have impressive statistics, their teams’ inability to win enough games in the playoffs has hindered their trophy count.
The technical basis of hockey
Hockey’s technical demands, such as speed, skating ability, and puck-handling, are unique to the sport. These skills, combined with physicality, teamwork, and strategic acumen, are essential for success in the NHL. Ovechkin and McDavid have mastered these aspects, but their teams’ failures to gel and adapt in the playoffs have limited their championship opportunities.
The takeaway
The disparity in trophies between hockey and soccer superstars is not solely due to individual failures. Rather, it is a reflection of the distinct nature of each sport and the factors