This speaks volumes. It is beyond sport.
Not since Maradona versus Pele has there been such a hotly contested debate about who the better player is.
But there is a stark difference with what we are blessed enough to witness here; both players are of the same generation competing against each other during their peak periods.
There is no cross-generational gap to try and cross; this golden era puts to shame the Jordan versus Lebron debate. This is better than Pele’s goal tally, this is better than Maradona’s Hand of God; this is Messi versus Ronaldo, Ronaldo versus Messi, and while this debate has raged for quite some time, it’s only going to get better.
An interesting observation divides these two icons and the fans battling it out behind them. On one hand, Cristiano Ronaldo epitomises everything that makes him the Hollywood jock: smart, talented, good-looking and rich beyond belief.
His athletic ability is sublime and to try and hold little Leo up to his standard is incontestable – Messi has his own gifts and talents, but not Ronaldo’s. Ronaldo jumps higher than the average NBA player, is as fast as a professional sprinter, and in eight seconds pulls an average of 13 moves (including step overs, spins and tricks) against his opponents.
Leading sports scientists even have trouble keeping up; in Tested to the Limit, the analysis needs to be slowed down to one third of its real time to even catch a glimpse of what he is doing.
His strength is evident in his defence-shattering free kicks. His ability to bend the trajectory of the ball as though an invisible object is deflecting it is second to none.
Such an athlete is Ronaldo, that you wouldn’t be surprised to learn he has three percent less body fat than a super model.
The former world player of the year dominated the English Premier League and straight into his debut season at Real Madrid, he began to score like it was going out of fashion.
He hasn’t got Xavi, Iniesta or any of the other superior Barcelona teammates around him, who have been training together for almost 10 years. He hasn’t got access to that machine of God-given talent, which is what makes him all the more better.
He has adapted frighteningly fast, has broken all-time scoring records and done it in style.
Messi is great, but would you bet on him performing to Ronaldo’s level in the English Premier League? Would you honestly put your hard-earned cash behind that? No, because just like Argentina you know that as great as Messi is, his exceptional success is directly attributable to the brilliant team that is Barcelona.
Remove Messi and plug in Drogba and they’ll still win – without the genius of Xavi and Iniesta, Messi can’t stand on his own.
Ronaldo relies on himself, on his own exceptional ability to consistently perform at the highest level, despite being hacked constantly by falling defenders, booed by the haters and hounded by the media.
His resilience is admirable, and at the end of the day, unless Messi can show he is adaptable and a true force in the sport of football, we all know that it is a massive argument-killer when it comes to his legacy.
If Argentina shows anything, it shows his inability to drag the team to victory the way Ronaldo has Sporting, Manchester United and Real Madrid.
The underlying argument is not about the national team in any case, the underlying argument is about each player’s ability to adapt to a different set-up, different players, different conditions, a different environment and a different competition.
Ronaldo at such a young age has already created a legacy that crushes Messi. The Argentine can peddle with Barca for as long as he wants, but until he stops playing it safe and shows his fans, his adversaries and the objective football spectator that he is more than a comfortable footballer riding the wave of a terrific La Liga team, he has brought nothing to the table in the true argument against Cristiano Ronaldo.
Imagine Ronaldo in Barcelona – with that set up, with those team players it’s frightening to think what the results would be.
But it’s impossible, Ronaldo is all for the challenge and not the easy option – although Barcelona tried to steal him away from Manchester United when Real Madrid were hot on his heels, he chose the challenge.
Rejecting Barcelona shows just what sort of character he is – brave, honest, good to his word and an athlete who thrives on difficulty – he won’t walk into a revolving success door to be a glory hunter, that’d be boring, that wouldn’t be a challenge, that wouldn’t be Cristiano.
People love Messi because he is perceived as the humble genius, the floppy haired little boy skipping around and smiling as he racks up a relentless number of goals.
Basically, Messi is what Disney encapsulates (aside from diving, spitting at other players, kicking balls into stadiums and elbowing opponents).
But people love Ronaldo because he is the complete footballer, the complete alpha male who doesn’t care what some stranger sitting behind a newspaper or a computer screen thinks of him.
He’s his own person and doesn’t play media politics. In other words, he’s the rebel of football- a James Dean whose apparent rival is the kid we hope scores the winning goal in the movies (set to the backdrop of a highly emotive film score).
When the tide settles a decade from now, there will still be a brilliant division among the legion of fans supporting the Portuguese prodigy and the amazing Argentine.
Despite arguments for or against, you have to admit it is an extremely privileged time to be alive watching two of the greatest footballers in history do their thing. Let’s hope Messi takes that long-awaited leap of faith into the English Premier League – then, and only then, can we settle this once and for all.
Simon
Guest
How is Ronaldo a rebel of soccer. He likes the media. Ibrahimovic is a rebel of soccer.
Colin Heggie
Guest
What a complete load of rubbish. It's not even worth wasting time trying to explain why Ronaldo is not on same level as Messi, as if you think that, you clearly know zero about football. Good article for sparking debate though !
Naylor
Guest
Please read "Myth of the Flat Earth" and you will understand it is actually you who are the "shmuck". Having a name like "Anti-Barcelona" and raving about an obvious bias doesn't make your opinion count, the facts do.
Naylor
Guest
Just needed to reply to this, nobody has scored 5 in one game in the Champions League but Messi. I think that explains it all. He's only 24 and he is constantly growing in every aspect. If there was such thing as a limitless footballer it is him. Messi bails Barcelona out plenty of times with his own creativity. That game he scored 5 goals he also was involved in build up from central midfield and positioned himself for the finish. He does it time and time again and it would be hard not to see that. They are both great players but Ronaldo is 27 and Messi has beat him to the Ballon d'Or since 2009, the game is pretty much over. He's younger and he's expected to beat the record for the most ever received. Ronaldo has and will never reach that stage in his career.
cosmosis
Guest
Ronaldo has proved himself in two of the best leagues in the world ....while playing with carrick and anderson and ozil and higuain.....he is great for his national team as well..........messi is great....but he always will have the xavi n' iniesta over him.....people say messi also provides a lot os assists but the space to provide these assists also is provided by xavi.............messi playing in the premier league vs terry and vidic breathing down his neck day in and day out will be interesting to watch......
TITO
Guest
Please, never speak or write anymore about football. Please comment on who is nicer, stronger, best dressed or who is winning more money. You are right CR is better than Messi, and also better than Maradona ( who alone won the italian A, a world cup, finalist in 1990 and scored the best goal in the football history). CR merit last year was scoring a record of penalties.
jo
Guest
cr7 is much better lets be honest here
Barron
Guest
Ronaldo scored a fine goal I agree my friend, but let me ask you this, did Portugal win? Nani outshines him in every game Portugal plays. Camelo!!
Barron
Guest
You're the man for this comment! Hahahahhahah. Ronaldo is just a good striker, that's all
Rodrigue
Guest
Ok this argument can rage on and on, but for me I have a simple way of deciding it. All the best players in the world have always had the ability to streamroll 4,5 defenders at a time and score absolutely sublime goals. Ronaldo (fat) did it, Ronaldihno did it, Zidane did it and Maradona did it. Please show me just 2 goals that the current Ronaldo has scored like that at Madrid, see im being reasonable, I ask for just 2 any world class striker besides Chicharito, Klose, Huntelaar etc (poachers) should have quite a few of those. Ok better yet i'll pull it back to 1 show me just one goal that Ronaldo has scored at Madrid, that can be compared to Messi's goal vs Getafe, 4th goal vs Arsenal in 4-1 win. 1st goal vs Arsenal in 3-1 win, 2nd goal vs Madrid in UCL final. 1-2 combination goal with Pedro against Villareal (this goal is evidence of why Ronaldo can't play for Barcelona), 2 Goals vs Valencia last season in the first encounter, goal vs Racing Santander just yesterday. Show me just 1 goal where Ronaldo shows price control and effective dribbling to get around 4, 5 defenders like Messi and other greats have done, and you have a case. Just 1 goal people, I just came up with like 7 goals for Messi off my head, and for all his "skills" I couldnt think of 1 for Ronaldo. The best goal I have ever seen Ronaldo score was the goal vs Spain in a friendly that was called back after Nani headed it in even though it was already going in. And yet that goal isnt even that impressive, relative to what Messi does.
Bro
Guest
Hey Neymar (lol), This "debate" is between Ronaldo & Messi, not between Messi & Pele & Maradona & Ronaldinho. In Messi's & Ronaldo's case, both players are surrounded with some of the best players in the world. Ronaldo was in England, and is now in Spain. Yet only Messi has achieved success in his club. Ronaldo never has. If you put both players in a less-capable team, they both underperform, Messi in Argentina, and Ronaldo in Portugal.
Alec
Guest
I'd totally take Ozil over Xavi right now, he's been in stellar form for Germany and his record for RM is incredible too. Also he's probably got ten more years in him playing at the top level.
mike heath
Guest
Aguero, Silva, Toure, Torres, Hernandez, Suarez have all adapted to the Premier League quickly. It's usually the exception that a top top player doesn't let his class show when he moves leagues. I'm sure Messi would be 'ok'. So what if Ronaldo did well in England and is doing well in Spain. He's a top player and former World player so why is it such a big deal that he's doing well? Ronaldo went to Man U, the best team in England and then to Madrid to the most expensive squad ever. He's Portuguese so I imagine it wasn't difficult settlling in next door. Barcalona aside these are the two best teams in the World and Sir Alex and Jose aren't bad managers are they and they have both been able to get the best out of Ronaldo. People make it seem as if he was playing for Newcastle and then moved to Malaga and was coached by useless managers and was still banging in 42 and 53 goal seasons. Ronaldo has everything in place to get the best out of him, both at Utd before and now Madrid. Messi has the same luxury at Barca. But on pure ability and craft Messi is on his own. He'd be the best player in whatever league he's in.
river plate
Guest
Punter, in my eyes theres no argument. Messi is a team player, he may score a lot and in some cases due to the assists of xavi an iniesta but his vision and creativity make him even greater than any player. The amount of assists he creates and the space he often leaves his fellow teamates with is priceless. I agree, Ronaldo resembles the perfect striker except his selfishness and his 'determination' to be the best and score the most goals is costing his team and is what makes them inferior to barcelona. In most cases, when confronted with either shooting at a difficult angle or passing to a teamate in a much better position, he goes himself. Further, when you say Ronaldo succeeded in the premier league, he was play in M.U, one of the best teams in the premier league with amazing players similar to the likes of xavi and iniesta. Now at Real Madrid, he is surrounded by amazing players, as and extended team (including bench) real madrid have the better team on paper thus Ronaldo like messi is in one of the greatest teams. Compare Ronaldo to Maradona who went to Napoli who was in the second division of Serie A and inidividually won them the equivalent of champions league as well as all domestic trophies, thus there is no comparison. Now in terms of international football, Ronaldo does not step up for portugal, Messi does not produce his form at barca for argentina but this is due to the team. Argentina have amazing attacking players but their midfield and defence has alot to answer for. Messi is not God, he cannot dribble from defence, pass the whole team, and score on a consistent basis but neither can anyone. Ronaldo resembles the perfect striker: tall, fast, agile, and a good finish and is certainly above the best players in the world. However, Messi's superior agility, speed with the ball, more consitent and accurate shooting, as well as amazing and creativity makes him the best footballer in the world and in a league of his own.
Neymar
Guest
Why mourinho is considered the best coach in the world over guardiola?...Because he is a proven winner in diferent clubs and leagues. Saying messi stand alone will be like sayin guardiola stand alone. Ronaldo immediately adapted himself in a new club and country and was the leader of the team. Ronaldo was the best at manchester. barcelona is for the moment better because real madrid is a team under construction with new players and management. both messi and ronaldo are great, but if your team dont win, you won't win individual honors. messi does not stand alone as the best player in the world such as ronaldinho, ronaldo da lima (the brazilian), pele, or maradona. if there is a constant debate between cristiano ronaldo and messi means there is not a huge gap between these two players. they both have diferent characteristics and proved to be extremely effective.
jo
Guest
stats medals awards all attibutable to barca, not the point here. its about diff team set up which messi cant adapt too. flawed mike heath, flawed. ur a jk
Lfc96
Guest
Haha your saying messi dosnt perform for argentina? He does just as much if not more or them, your just basing a whole teams success to one players performences pfftt learn something and watch the rubbish ronaldo has done for portugal.... Stop trying to put ronaldo on the same level as messi, Comparisons are over, start omparing him with silva or something. messi has stepped to the big boys now... The true legends of the game. he is now being compared to maradon, for the crown to be the king of football. I dare any ronaldo fan boy to challenge me as i know youll end up getting wrecked...
mike heath
Guest
This is crazy. Absolutely everything points to Messi being the best- the stats, the medals, the awards even what it said about him from current and ex players and managers. For me, anyone who brings up the National team as an argument against a player is struggling to find an argument against him in club football. If you want to bring Natioanl team performance heavily into the argument then there's a case for Xavi and Iniesta to be ahead of Ronaldo because they have been excellent for their clubs and excellent for their country. So top 4 who want to throw International performance in with club performances has to be 1. Iniesta 2. Xavi 4. Messi 5. Ronaldo You can't have it both ways. Either above is your top 4 in the World or you base it primarily on club performances- 1. Messi 2. Ronaldo 3. Iniesta 4. Xavi Xavi and Iniesta- kryptonite to the International argument.
Adrian
Guest
Another killer free kick by Ronaldo that messi can't do... hala madrid! His freekick was awesome against denmark from that far out jesus... Messi jsut a flop for argentina haha messi fan boys so upset right now they will get all mad again on this here
The one
Guest
Ronaldo scores a goal for Portugal in their loss, Messi does NOTHING yet again! Messi is underwhelming and y'all are just brainwashed by the media who elevate his great level while completing ignoring analytical factors which prove Ronaldo is the bigger gun. Bye Bye Messi.... CR7 has done way more for portugal than messi has for argentina, and portugal doesnt even have half their quality. Another epic fail by Messi.