Many things are said about Cristiano Ronaldo. Some say he’s arrogant, some say he has a big heart, some say his step overs are pointless, and some say his hunger for success has become an obsession.
Rival players from Barcelona say that he’s a good guy, and not at all what his public image says he is.
“I know him very well and he is a friendly guy. His public image does not correspond with how he is in real life”, Pique said.
“People base their opinion on gestures or comments without really knowing anything. I should say that from what I’ve seen recently he’s changed a bit, but personally I like the guy – he helped me a lot when I arrived at Manchester United.”
But as far as rivalries go, some people will always hate him.
Football fans have seen blazing, hate-filled comments online directed at the Portuguese superstar; but just like Ali versus Frazier, there will always be a public disconnection between confidence, swagger, and cockiness and an allegedly more humble demeanour.
But sporting purists talk about the athletic qualities of a player, not their personalities, and when we assess Ronaldo’s continued ascent in sporting excellence, we have to ask ourselves: Is Ballon d’Or three on its way?
Ronaldo’s goal scoring rate is sublime.
At more than a goal a game, he has scored 240 goals in 235 appearances for Real Madrid. He continues to break goal scoring records, club records, and La Liga records.
Like Messi at Barcelona, he is literally rewriting the history books.
Comparatively, Ronaldo is a better player this season than Messi, and it looks as though another La Liga title is in his grasp.
After firing Portugal into the Brazil World Cup, the country’s highest ever goal scorer proved that he can replicate his club form with the national team and now the world is hoping to see him lift the much-coveted prize in July.
With a list of record-breaking achievements far too long to describe in this article, even the most anti-Ronaldo fan has to acknowledge his sporting dominance.
Already a legend, if he wins the World Cup with Portugal, he will be immortalised forever. If Messi wins it, he too will become a timeless icon.
This is the only prize missing from their resumes, and the one that most football fans agree will settle the debate, once and for all.
But despite a win or a loss for Ronaldo, as it currently stands, he is in main contention for his third Ballon d’Or, adding to his first at Manchester United, and his second last season.
In a league where as much as a draw can cost you the title, Ronaldo has the chance to secure La Liga and win the Copa del Rey.
Champions League success is also on the horizon, with Schalke’s 6-1 mauling sending a strong message to the crown’s contenders.
This could well be Ronaldo’s best season to date, which seems almost surreal to say given how wildly successful his career has been.
At 29, he shows no signs of slowing down, but instead promising signs of speeding up. At the end of the day when he hangs up his boots, history will judge him, and when they do, he will surely have more than two Ballon d’Or titles to his name.
Anthony is the author of “Football Obsession: An Inside Look Into The Global Game”, which peaked at #2 on the Amazon Bestsellers Charts. It’s available from Amazon, iTunes, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo. Get your copy today.
Joe
Guest
As we all know the Balon D'or is based on stats from year to year not season to season.. with that in mind these stats should help. Ronaldo Games played: 17 Goals: 13 Messi Games played: 17 Goals: 17
Oly
Guest
Some of u talk nonsense leave this matter ronaldo or messi the football itself knows the best
Oly
Guest
What the main writer has said is true about people condeming CR7. Messi is good but not even to that level is rated, he got hat trick the media has sky rocket him let him leave spain and show is worth in any other big clubs. CR7 did it in England and again in Spain. The only player to win the award in England that means alot. Messi really had a contoversial time in his era. CR7 is a better player.
Abi
Guest
Ronaldo has proved himself time and time again to be one of the best (if not the best) we have ever seen.(Drunk writing). No one said ronaldo aint one of the best. But to simply say that hogwash you just said about him being the best ever? May be that word exists in Portugal, but unfortunately it doesn't exist in the world. Yes he is re writing real madrid's records dont get intoxicated. Scintillating form? Did you know how many goals messi has scored since returning from injury? The only record I could see ronaldo re writing in europe now is the CL. But hey, its the world cup year.... if messi or ronaldo didnt win the world cup then they can both forget the ballon D'or. But saying another ballon D'or is on the cards for ronaldo this season cause he has been scoring goals when king of football was out injured is mediocrity. Dont get me wrong he scores wonderful penalties..... hahahaha. No wonder roy keane blasted EPL media for making fans believe EPL is the best league in the world. Hey.... that was past history. Now, its la liga. La liga is the most colourful league in the world with the likes of Messi, ronaldo, Neymar and Bale. :) ouch that hurt
SeanR
Guest
Ronaldo has proved himself time and time again to be one of the best (if not the best) we have ever seen. Not saying we want Messi to leave Barcelona for another club to prove himself,just stating that Ronaldo has been able to prove himself winning the Ballon d'Or in a league regarded as arguably the toughest in the world and was without a doubt tougher at that time. A third Ballon d'Or is definitely on the cards for Ronaldo since he is in scintilating form and is constantly pushing boundaries and rewriting history books just as Messi has been doing for Barcelona.
Steven McBain
Roar Guru
Are you Abu's younger brother?
Abi
Guest
A ronaldo that plays in the most expensive assembled team innthe in the world, ronaldo that gets the fattest pay check, a ronaldo that scores the most penalties, a ronaldo that throws tantrums whenever nothing goes his way, a ronaldo that left ManU because of money, a ronaldo that did this and that. A MESSI who feels he has got a clun for life with team mates and friends. So many* other lelegends didnt change a team and yet they were recognised as legends. A messi who has destroyes most English, Italian, German etc teams with barcelona, a messi whou could have gone to PSG or Mancity for the Money, a messi whose statute will be erected at the entrance of camp nou, a messi who has been in Spain almost all his life, a messi who has loyaltyto barcelona, a messi who was helped bby barcelona when no other clubs helped him when he was suffering growth hormone deficiency, a messi who has won 4 Ballon D'or with one single club. Should we say sir alex ferguson is not a legend cause he coached ManU for 26 years? Should we say ryan gigs is not a legend cause he played for one club? Should we say maldini aint a legend? Alfredo di stefano? Pele? Please you guys talking about messi to leave Barca and show himself somewhere else are just disillusioned. This is just like telling ya father to leave ya mother to try another woman to see who is the best. It is never a crime to play your entire life in one club. Besides, where do you want him to go? Thos people writing fibs here would be the ones from EPL. A league that is now full of joke? How many times has Messi destroyed an english team? So you wanted him to leave barca and go to where? ManU, city, chelsea, arsenal, Liverpool or may be Tottenham? Stop this senseless talk.
A.K
Guest
I would love Ibra to win the Ballon d'Or, he definitely deserves one after his stellar career. I included him in my top players of all time in my book. He's a beast!
Steven McBain
Roar Guru
He's playing bloody well you right. I think if PSG can get into the sharp end of the CL then he stands a chance this year if he starts next season well again. Think he's got the same issue as Ronaldo though, everyone sees him as too arrogant - I personally like the top players being arrogant, it's all part of their game. I think the World Cup can go for or against you. Certainly Zidane the first time and Ronaldo (original) the last time he won it both won it off the back of World Cups as did Cannavaro when he won it with Italy. Point being though that all three played on the winning team. Romario got it in '94, again he was on the winning team. Messi had a very average 2010 World Cup though still got ahead of Xavi and Iniesta on the strength of his Barcelona form so all not lost for Ibra, kinda feels like he deserves one overall to me although not sure he'll get it............ I don't see Portugal or France as possible winners and Messi will have to play like he does for Barca if Argentina want to get close. Two edged sword and if the performances by the top players at the WC have been much to go on lately Ibra might do well to sit it out......
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Early days but Ibra is (again) having a fantastic season at PSG. He has scored 40 goals so far in all comps (club's record) including 25 in ligue 1 (also 11 assists) and 10 in the UCL (7 matches played). Many think he is actually having his best season ever. No doubt Ligue 1 isn't as strong as a few other leagues in Europe but defences are pretty tight which has been confirmed by guys like Falcao, Cavani or Ibra who know a thing or 2 about European football. Unfortunately for Ibra Sweden didn't qualify to the WC so again its going to be tough to compete against CR7, Messi or Ribery. His only chance is that the first 2 and their nation under perform at the WC.
Steven McBain
Roar Guru
Abu, I find your comments slightly bizarre. The article IS with merit, hence there's healthy debate about it. I also think using words such as 'pathetic' to describe Ronaldo's - to my mind merited - Ballon D'Or win is also laying bare the same anti Ronaldo agenda that is being discussed here. I don't think anyone is saying that Messi is not an incredible player. Many have discussed Messi as being the greatest ever but few have mentioned Ronaldo in that discussion. Many people therefore that rate and admire Ronaldo also recognise the genius of Messi. Messi's talents do not make Ronaldo a lesser player, you can enjoy both of them. It's not mutually exclusive.
A.K
Guest
Abu, ironically you just reinstated what the article mentioned: hatred for CR7. You've gone a step further by throwing hate at me as well. I sense, from the tone of your response, that you are fearful about Ronaldo's third Ballon d'Or, otherwise it wouldn't be written with a slanderous, aggressive, and dismissive tone. Please, next time you respond to an article on The Roar, can you get a few facts sorted :) The Ballon d'Or deadline was extended, not because of a conspiracy, but because a majority of captains and coaches did not cast their vote. They didn't cast their vote, presumably because nobody takes the award as serious as they once did. It is a skewed popularity contest. Messi won it when Sneijder should have won it in 2010, something that based on your line of argument, must surely baffle you? And if it does, then it contradicts your implied position that Ronaldo didn't deserve it, because he didn't have a trophy. It's important to not let your support for Messi, or any other player, corrode your line of argument. By all means have your opinion, but deliver it sensibly. Also, Ballon d'Ors don't equate with quality. Do you know how many legendary players never won a world player of the year award? Or the Champions League? Or a World Cup? Given the subjective nature of the voting process (look at the world's best 11 last season), it has caused FIFA to lose some credibility. In short, don't be afraid of Ronaldo winning another 100 Ballon d'Ors, or Messi winning none, because at the end of the day they are both legends, and no matter what side of the fence you sit on, you should appreciate how fortunate you are for seeing these two play in your lifetime.
lol
Guest
A messi that's been playing with the same team his whole life, a messi that's playing with a Barcelona that is basically the Spanish national team that won the world cup without hum. A messi that does nothing for a star studded Argentina. A Ronaldo that is already top 5 scorer in Madrid while only playing for a few years there, a Ronaldo that's his top scorer in Portuguese national team ever at only 29, a Ronaldo that single handedly brought a mediocre Portugal to the world cup, a Ronaldo that cab score headers, left foot, right foot, penalties at will. Yeah idiota great points your making.
Abu
Guest
I think this article is pointless just as ronaldo's step overs. Omg. He didnt even convincingly win the 2nd ballon D'or. I mean messi was out injured for him to win* the pathetic ballon D'or he won. A ballon D'or he won with deadline date extended? A ballon D'or he win with no single trophies? A ballon D'or he won because that fifa president wanted to redeem is tanished image? Give us a break with this article please. Messi has scored 18 goals after almost 2 months out with injury... yet his goal ratios are even better than the in form ronaldo. You can write all you can, he will not never win a third ballon D'or. He can break messi's 92 goal record still will not land him a third ballon D'or.
Midfielder
Guest
Love CR he is IMO the better of the two ... if I had to sign one who would I sign and its a tough call ... but forced to make a call I would go for CR...
Anthony Karakai
Roar Rookie
I agree Al. I've always been against judging a sports person on anything else other than their sporting abilities. I see a lot of hate for CR7 based on his perceived arrogance, and a lot of love for Messi due to his perceived humbleness. I use the word "perceived" as nobody really knows these two people, and Messi has done a lot of "bad" things which aren't nearly as publicised as Ronaldo's occasional statements. It's a media war, really. When Messi attacked Arbeloa venomously in front of his pregnant wife, he had to be dragged away and forced onto the team bus.Hurling abuse at Aitor Karanka in the tunnel was also unwarranted and low. I met a bunch of Messi fans in Barca last year, and even they admitted that if this was Ronaldo, the Spanish press would have a field day with it. There's a stark division between these two players which, as a neutral fan, is annoying to see unfold. The only other rivalry in recent memory that I believe is as hotly contested, is Ali versus Tyson. Like Messi an Ronaldo, each fighter has their pros and their cons, their strengths and their weaknesses. Ali had incredible stamina and was an under rated hard-hitter. He was extremely fast for a heavy weight boxer. Tyson was like a rhino in the ring. Brute force. Raw power. Devastating. I believe these rivalries make the sport more fun to watch, but sometimes commenters step over the line and become disrespectful. I don't doubt that without Ronaldo, or without Messi, the game today wouldn't be as interesting. They push each other, and represent different styles of play. The fact that we are blessed enough to see these two legends play in the same era should quash the debates. I discuss this whole debacle at length in my book, "Football Obsession: An Inside Look Into The Global Game". I think Ronaldo deserves a third Ballon d'Or, but increasingly, it seems to be a popularity vote more than a genuine, objective analysis. There are far too many inconsistencies in the voting procedures for it to hold its total weight in gold. @AZ_RBB: I agree with you. I was on the fence about how well Messi was returning to his usual self, and this morning saw his hattrick for Barca. This is great news. Are any of you guys going to the World Cup?
AZ_RBB
Guest
Messi's display on the weekend has him again at the top of his game. If either is to win the World Cup, it will make certain that they win the award next year.
al
Guest
Ronaldo is self confident but he is top class and always trying to better himself. I thought he would become lazy when he was leaving ManU and heading for Spain with all them sexy ladies there, but he proved me wrong. There are many players with big egos who aren't nearly as good as he is.