As for your stats, there's once again no real context. You noted how many categories that Kroos was outperforming Rakitic in and yet many of the differences were nominal and/or meaningless. So I'll provide context in a few ways including by demonstrating what the different in per 90 stats would mean over the course of a full 38 match season. Here is what I found, all from Sqawka season to date:
PASSING
Assists: Kroos .13, Rakitic .10 Difference: 1 assist in a full season
Second assists: Kroos 0, Rakitic .05 Difference: 1 secondary assist in a full season
Total passes: Kroos 86.87, Rakitic 85.22 Difference: 62 passes in a full season
Long balls: Kroos 9.80, Rakitic 5.67 Difference: 156 long balls in a full season
Chances created: Kroos 2.67, Rakitic .52 Difference: 81 chances in a full season
Chances created in open play: Kroos 1.2, Rakitic .52 Difference: 25 chances in a full season
Through balls: Kroos .13, Rakitic .10 Difference: 1 through ball in a full season
Total crosses: Kroos 1.87, Rakitic .21 Difference: 63 crosses in a full season
Avg pass length: Kroos 1.21m, Rakitc .86m Difference: .35m
Actual assists: Kroos 2, Rakitic 2
So there's really nothing to write home about here. The long balls stat is the biggest difference, but what constitutes a long ball? And to put that stat into context, the difference in their respective average pass lengths is .35m or just over 1 foot. If you look at the ridiculous video you posted earlier you can also see that a lot of Kroos long balls are sideways passes. On top of that he takes far more crosses and I'd be very curious as to what constitutes a cross. At the end of the day what difference is the long ball making anyway?
The other notable stat here regarding Kroos is chances created. However when you look at chances created in open play it's very clear that what I've been saying all along about this is true. Kroos' chances created are largely coming from free kicks or corners which he takes and Rakitic largely does not. Then as I've also noted you have the fact that Kroos' role is more of a playmaker than Rakitic. This however hasn't translated into any more real assists, though you've already made the ridiculous argument that it's all down Madrid's finishing.
Then that leaves us with assists. At the current rate Kroos would have on more assist than Rakitic which is very nominal considering he takes free kicks, corners and has more of a playmaker role. Then when you consider second assists, and I'll be the first to say that I'd like to know what exactly that is, Rakitic has one more, though it should be noted I rounded down there (you don't get .5 of something when it's all said and done) and Rakitic's difference was 1.9, so nearly 2. Both of Kroos' assists essentially came from set plays (again, something I said from the beginning before looking at the stats). Rakitic's assists came in wins, one a big match against Sevilla away, while Kroos' came against Girona and Villarreal in losses.
All of that considered I'd say that despite Kroos being more of a playmaker, seeing more of the ball relative to the rest of his midfield teammates and more than Rakitic in this regard and Kroos taking free kicks and corners where Rakitic does, their really isn't a difference here when Kroos should be winning this battle.
DEFENSE
Interceptions: Kroos .73, Rakitic 1.94 Difference: 45 interceptions in a full season
Tackles made: Kroos 2.27, Rakitic 1.21 Difference: 40 tackles made in a full season
Tackles won: Kroos 1.4, Rakitic .94 Difference: 17 tackles won in a full season
Tackles success %: Kroos .61, Rakitic .77 Difference: Rakitic about 25% more successful
Ariel duels won: Kroos 2.6, Rakitic 2.26 Difference: 12 ariel duels won in a full season
Dispossess opponent: Kroos .6, Rakitic .73 Difference: 4 dispossesses in a full season
Blocked shots: Kroos .13, Rakitic .26 Difference: 4 blocked shots in a full season
Blocked passes: Kroos .87, Rakitic .68 Difference: 7 blocked passes in a full season
Clearances: Kroos .53, Rakitic 1.1 Difference: 21 clearances in a full season
So there's not a big difference here. I'd say the interceptions are notable. The tackles not as much when you factor in success % as it means that despite the difference in tackles made, the actual tackles won is less than 1 every other match. I will say that Rakitic's role requires him to defend more than Kroos, but then Barça also has more possession.
SHOOTING
Shots: Kroos 1.33, Rakitic 1.31 Difference: Less than one shot in a full season
Shot accuracy: Kroos 42.9%, Rakitic 45.5% Difference: Rakitic about 6% more accurate
Shot conversion: Kroos 0%, Rakitic 12% Difference: Rakitic is 12% more accurate
Shots inside area: Kroos .2, Rakitic .52 Difference: 12 shots inside the area in a full season
Shots outside area: Kroos 1.13, Rakitic .79 Difference: 12 shots outside the area in a full season
Goals: Kroos 0, Rakitic 3
Once again, not much there. Shots are about the same. Rakitic is more accurate, but he takes more shots inside the areas and fewer outside of it. The big decider here is the actual amount of goals themselves. Rakitic not only has a few goals, but 2 of the 3 goals were in big matches. One in a win against Sevilla (different fixture than his assist above) and the other a Clasico winner that just happened to be a World Class chip.
As for what you posted:
Again, you provide little context here. I've bolded the stats that I would say are meaningful. What constitutes a key pass though? Regardless of that, it doesn't mean any more assists for Kroos either. And like I said, what of the long balls? Also, I wouldn't say fewer cards makes a player better. There is such a thing as a smart foul and considering Rakitic has only been sent off once I wouldn't call it a big issue. I'm also seeing discrepancies in comparing the stats. I'm not going to say one site is better than the other, but there are differences.
All of the above considered, I'd say Kroos is the better passer, or at least he has more range. However Madrid play differently which would factor in and I'd like clarification on the role of free kicks and corners into those figures. Rakitic is better defensively. Rakitic is the better goalscorer. Rakitic is the bigger match player.
What really matters here though is that you said that "stats say otherwise" to Kroos being "pretty bad" and an "overrated player". The stat you threw out was his chances created which I've now numerous times put into context by noting his taking of corners and free kicks and his lack of assists which you've put solely down to bad finishing. At the end of the day you've simply done exactly what you were arguing against, you overrated Kroos. You've even gone so far as to say Kroos "made Ronaldo the best in the World."
PASSING
Assists: Kroos .13, Rakitic .10 Difference: 1 assist in a full season
Second assists: Kroos 0, Rakitic .05 Difference: 1 secondary assist in a full season
Total passes: Kroos 86.87, Rakitic 85.22 Difference: 62 passes in a full season
Long balls: Kroos 9.80, Rakitic 5.67 Difference: 156 long balls in a full season
Chances created: Kroos 2.67, Rakitic .52 Difference: 81 chances in a full season
Chances created in open play: Kroos 1.2, Rakitic .52 Difference: 25 chances in a full season
Through balls: Kroos .13, Rakitic .10 Difference: 1 through ball in a full season
Total crosses: Kroos 1.87, Rakitic .21 Difference: 63 crosses in a full season
Avg pass length: Kroos 1.21m, Rakitc .86m Difference: .35m
Actual assists: Kroos 2, Rakitic 2
So there's really nothing to write home about here. The long balls stat is the biggest difference, but what constitutes a long ball? And to put that stat into context, the difference in their respective average pass lengths is .35m or just over 1 foot. If you look at the ridiculous video you posted earlier you can also see that a lot of Kroos long balls are sideways passes. On top of that he takes far more crosses and I'd be very curious as to what constitutes a cross. At the end of the day what difference is the long ball making anyway?
The other notable stat here regarding Kroos is chances created. However when you look at chances created in open play it's very clear that what I've been saying all along about this is true. Kroos' chances created are largely coming from free kicks or corners which he takes and Rakitic largely does not. Then as I've also noted you have the fact that Kroos' role is more of a playmaker than Rakitic. This however hasn't translated into any more real assists, though you've already made the ridiculous argument that it's all down Madrid's finishing.
Then that leaves us with assists. At the current rate Kroos would have on more assist than Rakitic which is very nominal considering he takes free kicks, corners and has more of a playmaker role. Then when you consider second assists, and I'll be the first to say that I'd like to know what exactly that is, Rakitic has one more, though it should be noted I rounded down there (you don't get .5 of something when it's all said and done) and Rakitic's difference was 1.9, so nearly 2. Both of Kroos' assists essentially came from set plays (again, something I said from the beginning before looking at the stats). Rakitic's assists came in wins, one a big match against Sevilla away, while Kroos' came against Girona and Villarreal in losses.
All of that considered I'd say that despite Kroos being more of a playmaker, seeing more of the ball relative to the rest of his midfield teammates and more than Rakitic in this regard and Kroos taking free kicks and corners where Rakitic does, their really isn't a difference here when Kroos should be winning this battle.
DEFENSE
Interceptions: Kroos .73, Rakitic 1.94 Difference: 45 interceptions in a full season
Tackles made: Kroos 2.27, Rakitic 1.21 Difference: 40 tackles made in a full season
Tackles won: Kroos 1.4, Rakitic .94 Difference: 17 tackles won in a full season
Tackles success %: Kroos .61, Rakitic .77 Difference: Rakitic about 25% more successful
Ariel duels won: Kroos 2.6, Rakitic 2.26 Difference: 12 ariel duels won in a full season
Dispossess opponent: Kroos .6, Rakitic .73 Difference: 4 dispossesses in a full season
Blocked shots: Kroos .13, Rakitic .26 Difference: 4 blocked shots in a full season
Blocked passes: Kroos .87, Rakitic .68 Difference: 7 blocked passes in a full season
Clearances: Kroos .53, Rakitic 1.1 Difference: 21 clearances in a full season
So there's not a big difference here. I'd say the interceptions are notable. The tackles not as much when you factor in success % as it means that despite the difference in tackles made, the actual tackles won is less than 1 every other match. I will say that Rakitic's role requires him to defend more than Kroos, but then Barça also has more possession.
SHOOTING
Shots: Kroos 1.33, Rakitic 1.31 Difference: Less than one shot in a full season
Shot accuracy: Kroos 42.9%, Rakitic 45.5% Difference: Rakitic about 6% more accurate
Shot conversion: Kroos 0%, Rakitic 12% Difference: Rakitic is 12% more accurate
Shots inside area: Kroos .2, Rakitic .52 Difference: 12 shots inside the area in a full season
Shots outside area: Kroos 1.13, Rakitic .79 Difference: 12 shots outside the area in a full season
Goals: Kroos 0, Rakitic 3
Once again, not much there. Shots are about the same. Rakitic is more accurate, but he takes more shots inside the areas and fewer outside of it. The big decider here is the actual amount of goals themselves. Rakitic not only has a few goals, but 2 of the 3 goals were in big matches. One in a win against Sevilla (different fixture than his assist above) and the other a Clasico winner that just happened to be a World Class chip.
As for what you posted:
Again, you provide little context here. I've bolded the stats that I would say are meaningful. What constitutes a key pass though? Regardless of that, it doesn't mean any more assists for Kroos either. And like I said, what of the long balls? Also, I wouldn't say fewer cards makes a player better. There is such a thing as a smart foul and considering Rakitic has only been sent off once I wouldn't call it a big issue. I'm also seeing discrepancies in comparing the stats. I'm not going to say one site is better than the other, but there are differences.
All of the above considered, I'd say Kroos is the better passer, or at least he has more range. However Madrid play differently which would factor in and I'd like clarification on the role of free kicks and corners into those figures. Rakitic is better defensively. Rakitic is the better goalscorer. Rakitic is the bigger match player.
What really matters here though is that you said that "stats say otherwise" to Kroos being "pretty bad" and an "overrated player". The stat you threw out was his chances created which I've now numerous times put into context by noting his taking of corners and free kicks and his lack of assists which you've put solely down to bad finishing. At the end of the day you've simply done exactly what you were arguing against, you overrated Kroos. You've even gone so far as to say Kroos "made Ronaldo the best in the World."
