Much has been made of Lionel Messi’s hasty decision to pack in international football. But he has made his bed and in it he must lie.
The Argentine magician can never properly be considered as one of the all-time greats without international success, and in a situation where that doesn’t happen, throwing in the towel has marked his card for good.
This, therefore, is Cristiano Ronaldo’s time to prove he is right up there with Pele and Diego Maradona, or to even mark himself out as the very best of them all.
If he can win Euro 2016 with Portugal, it will rank up there with Maradona’s literally single-handed inspiration of Argentina to the 1986 World Cup.
» Overnight at the Euros: France finish Germany
This Portugal side is as bad as we’ve seen.
In Ronaldo however, they have a genuine superstar, whose adoration of himself is only outstripped by his adoration of scoring goals and winning football games.
He has dragged Portugal by their bootlaces – so called ‘lucky losers’ who finished third in their group, behind Hungary and Iceland of all teams – to the final of the European Championship.
In clubland, Messi has had the wood on Ronaldo – Barcelona’s La Liga wins of 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2016 far outstripping Real Madrid’s four titles in the same period.
Messi has been the jewel in the Barcelona crown, the centrepiece of arguably the greatest club side of them all, one which at the very least brought to light a new way of playing which, for some time, was simply unstoppable.
But on the international stage, there will be no further comparisons of these two superstars who have spurred each other on to greater and greater heights with each passing season.
Messi’s dash is done – the 29-year-old deciding enough was enough after Argentina’s penalty shoot-out loss to Chile in the Copa America final, a third major final loss in succession for Argentina.
Ronaldo is, at 31, still at the peak of his powers, but even with his unbreakable self-confidence he must know he is in the Last Chance Saloon when it comes to international success.
The taste of defeat still lingers – especially given the Euro 2004 final was lost at the hands of unfancied Greece. But Ronaldo was only 19 then and he was playing in a team with some bona fide greats of Portuguese football – Deco, Manuel Rui Costa, Fernando Couto and Luis Figo; some names.
It was a changing of the guard as Portugal lost, they said farewell to the Golden Generation, their back-to-back FIFA World Youth Cup winning players of 1989 and 1991, and ushered in a new generation spearheaded by Ronaldo, one which has been seriously underwhelming.
If Portugal win the final it will be because of Ronaldo – he’s the only player they’ve got capable of deciding the match in their favour.
And if he does, it will be irrefutable evidence of Ronaldo’s place among the greatest, and finally a compelling case of superiority over his great rival Messi.
Professor Rosseforp
Guest
Agreed on Ronaldo's role thus far -- in the last match, the signs were ominous, in that Ronaldo looked like he was interested in what was happening on the field and actually took part. The previous matches I saw, he was strictly a passenger, and should have been replaced. I suspect he either had some injury, or his head was in the wrong place for some reason. His shots on goal were flimsy, and the ball that rebounded off the keeper to provide a non-Ronaldo goal, was a sure sign that something was amiss. I think it's a terrible disappointment to see Portugal in the final, but now they are there, and Ronaldo is firing again, I wouldn't be surprised to see him score 2-3 goals. I can't comment on his personality, as I've never met the man, but if there was one player you would not want to play against, it would be Ronaldo.
Albal
Guest
Ronaldo the greatest? The greatest at being obnoxious. I am a Real Madrid fan and I don't rate him anywhere close to messi. After messi he is best there is at the moment. I don't even think Ronaldo is the best Portuguese player of all time. the great Eusebio did more at the world cup with a weaker Portugal team and one European glory with weak Benifica
danwain
Guest
Ronaldo is down to earth!?! That will do me!!!
Gavin
Guest
Oh i wish we could stop with the comparisons already! Talk about dead horse... Sanches has easily been the best player for Portugal. Regardless, France will wipe Portugal away and the argument rolls on...
Patrick
Guest
You must be out of your mind to expect Ronaldo to behave the same way as Messi. They both were raised by different people, came from different backgrounds. You're so dumb, you could even say Ronaldo would retire from his national side if Portugal lose to France because Messi did. Messi is only better in dribbling one on one. If dribbling was all a player needed, Okach if Nigeria would have won ten(10) Ballon D'ors, not to mention the great Ronaldinho, Denison of Brazil. How about iniesta of Barca. Ronaldo is better in every other area( headers, free kicks, penalties, long shots, etc) . Ronaldo is down to earth and would speak his mind and react naturally. The last time I checked, one does not need to be well-bred,well behaved or morally modest to win the Ballon D'or. Ronaldo doesn't pretend. He wants everything and he works hard for it and expresses it. If you think you're not selfish in a lot of things then you're not human.
Lawrence
Guest
Nah..I can't just understand why the Ronaldo guy is so under appreciated! If Ronaldo played such a good team like Argentina then he would have won them five world-cups ago. One thing is certain, of all dat have ever graced de game, only maradona, di stefano and Pele are greater dan this hero...The Messi hyping is just what de media try to bring up often which at tyms becomes so nonsensical...Even Messi himself doesn't believe he is better dan Ronaldo and he won't ever! Ronaldo miles bera dan Missi...Just don't be deluded.
Mark
Guest
3 articles on the same thing today...yawn!
Punter
Guest
Ronaldo plays for a poor Portugal team (outside of Pepe), their golden generation finished as he was beginning, 2004 (euro finalists) & 2006 (WC semis) was Portugal's best time. At Real Madrid, he was up against the best club team known to man in Barcelona & up against the player I rate the greatest, a little known player called XaviInesitaMessi & yet he won 3 ballon d'ors another one this year (wink wink say no more), 3 Champions leagues & La Liga with the most pts ever. Ancellotti said of Ronaldo, he is very competitive, but he is fairly popular in the dressing room who accepts him being a big head, look at the exchange between Bale (who if you believe the English media hates & is jealous of him) & Ronaldo after the semi. You had to have a good guy (Ali) & bad Guy (Frazier) in Messi & Ronaldo. He is more then a good player, you don't score 50+ goals a season for the last 6 seaons being just a good player!!!!!
HalaMadrid
Guest
Ronaldo also won 3 league titles and a UCL title with Manchester United. Or did you forget that? Saying Messi has won 8 league titles to Real Madrid's 4 is missing almost half of Ronaldo's career! They're both great, but different.
Kaks
Roar Guru
I'm not saying he is a bad player, I'm saying that he is not the greatest and never will be with his ability and attitude in a team game. Ronaldo is a good player, but to be held in the same esteem as Messi? Give me a break. Ronaldo of 2008 was unbelievable, but ever since then he has been overshadowed by the breathtaking Messi.
Punter
Guest
Pepe can't do what Ronaldo does!!!! Same as Puyol can't do what Messi does!!!!
Punter
Guest
The sad thing about this post is that you are my friend, the good thing is you are a WSW supporter & you know nothing!!!! Just because he throws silly tantrums doesn't not make him a great footballer, just because he is all me, me, me doesn't not make him a great player, most of the greats are flawed on or off the field. Even the humble Messi is in trouble now. In the first 2 games of tournament, he had more shots on goal then any other player, so he got into positions, in the last game of the round, he dragged Portugal up on his on against Austria. In the game Croatia, he won the ball back in defence & sprinted up the field & set the winner, against Poland he was a battering centre forward with not much support, against Wales, he scored & assisted both goals. Open your eyes mate. With Real Madrid he is dangerous, because you have to defend Bale, Benzema, James, Di Maria (when he was there), for Portugal they just put 2 or 3 players on him. No way would Messi had scored that first goal!!! Open your eyes son, enjoy a caramel latte, you can be different!!!!
SM
Guest
I've much as I'm a fan of the player, Nani, Pepe, and young Sanches have outshone him in this tournament. I won't get into the Messi debate as it tedious stuff. Both are phenomenal in their own way.
CG2430
Guest
I like Ronaldo but he's not even the best player in his club or national team. Pepe is the real superstar! :D
Kaks
Roar Guru
The sad thing is that if Portugal end up winning, Ronaldo will be hyped up by a bunch of people who love the man more than they love the game, even though he has been anonymous most of the tournament except for a few air swings and tantrums. The other 10 players will be completely ignored while Ronaldo laps up the attention that he craves. Ronaldo winning the Euro's will not make him the greatest. He will never be the greatest until he does what Messi does with a football on a regular basis. He will never be the greatest until he understand that there are another 10 players on the same team as you, and you're all striving to win - not be seen as an individually brilliant player. He will never be the greatest until he stop blaming his teammates for anything that goes wrong on the pitch, throwing silly tantrums like a pre-pubescent schoolboy.
Really?
Guest
Ronaldo isn't even in the same league as Messi. Forgetting you play a team sport is something the USA is all about and isn't a measure of a great player. Messi is the best because he and Barcelona understand a team is greater than the sum of its parts. You just need to look at Ronaldo's continued failings from free kicks to understand that. Rather than pass the baton, even occasionally, to another player he always takes them and always shoots, in spite of having a poor record.
Cass
Guest
What are you saying Ronaldo single handedly carried Portugal to finals!!!!!! That Portugal which did not win first 5 matches in normal time Ronaldo do not influence his time like Messi does Messi single handedly led his team to three straight finals but unfortunately did not win( coz of Hinguain) Winning a major international tournament is a great achievement for a player but it did not make them greatest player or even compare to Pele or Maradona. Ronaldo is just a great goal scorer not a team player like Messi and he does not influence a game like him.
lotay gyeltshen
Guest
How said Ronaldo is the best, those how said Ronaldo is best is foolish guy , no one can compare to Messi , messi is the best in this world.