Ronaldo or Messi, that has been the argument that has erupted in recent seasons but just who is the supreme footballer?
The stats that the two accumulate are simply astonishing, since his time in Spain Ronaldo has bagged an incredible 76 goals in 73 appearances. He’s scored an equally impressive 30 in 85 appearances for the Portuguese national side and you would think it’s difficult to look past him. His searing pace and ability to take on any defender places him at the pinnacle of the game yet he only possesses one Fifa World Player of the Year trophy in his cabinet. The simple reason for this... Messi. The little Argentine embodies everything that Barcelona represents. His ball skills are second to no one, his runs from midfield are lethal and when his head is down he is impossible to tackle. With 132 goals to his name in just 187 appearances for the Spanish Kings, he has grown to become the brightest talent in World football.
Messi’s dominance on the club side cannot be questioned; he has played a huge hand in Barca’s development, winning trophy after trophy along the way, dragging La Liga out of the shadows of the Premier League. He is at the heart of their every success and is an influential member of Pep’s team. To put it frank he is integral part of possibly the greatest side to grace football. With 3 Champions League trophies and 5 La Liga titles to his name it’s easy to see why he is touted as the World’s best. But despite this, Ronaldo can compete with the Argentine’s stunning stats. In the EPL, he guided Manchester United to 3 League titles and only their 3rd Champions League trophy 2008. He ignited the Premier League and during his stay in England he dominated. The EPL is a much more different challenge to La Liga and Cristiano has proved he can command any league in the World, something which Messi is yet to prove.
The two so far cannot really be separated so what about on the International stage. Perhaps the most significant reason as to why Messi is yet to deserve the title of the greatest ever footballer. His performances for the Argentine national side have been unimpressive. In South Africa he was anything but his best and with only 18 goals to his International account its clear things haven’t clicked on the International scene. On the other side, Ronaldo has enjoyed a much more positive time playing for country. In 2004 he guided Portugal to the final of the European Championships and the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2006, a relative success considering they are ranked 8th in the World. Despite this he also failed to turn up in South Africa making little impact as Portugal were eliminated by eventual winners Spain in the last 16. It would appear that both have failed to live up to their high expectations on the International stage so what is left to separate the two... their playing styles.
Ronaldo is quite simply the complete athlete. His genetic makeup is everything a manager would desire, pace, agility, strength, power, balance he has it all in his locker. He can shoot from almost anywhere on the pitch as his 40 yard thunderbolt for United against FC Porto proved. His freekick ability is almost unstoppable; just ask David James when he was bamboozled by one of Ronald’s signature freekicks. For 90 minutes the winger is mesmerising, his feet dance in and out of defenders with superb grace but he can finish with the power of a bull. He is at the heart of everything; he wants the ball constantly and produces consistent quality game after game. His one downfall is that he goes to ground far too easily and his frustration on the pitch often blights his performances. Messi on the other hand is the complete juxtaposition. At 5 ft 6 you would question his ability to hold his own on the pitch, he is minuscule in comparison to Ronaldo but what he does have is natural breathtaking ability. The forward is quick, quicker than any other player on the ball and his exquisite balance and composure is unmatched. He possesses the ability to glide past any player and scores from almost impossible position. What Messi has cannot be taught and this is what separates him from the rest of the World.
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