₦airaland Forum

ogbonti:
Messi was clueless against Juventus home and away

CR7 made Juventus look like Igbobi college team


Now who is better?

LordAdam16:
There is no bar anything.

Who wins more notable trophies between the both of them wins the Ballon D'Or simple as.

CR7 is playing catch up in honors because Messi first had the clean break with a superior Barca side. The Real Madrid side is just coming along and is the best team on the planet now.

If it had happened in reverse, it'll be Messi playing catch up. Both of them have been phenomenal for the past 10 years sharing the stage every year.

As for your ranking, it is about recency bias. Messi had a clean spell first and gave CR7 a clear gap. Of course, many people would tote Messi when he had 4 Ballon D'Ors against CR7's 1. Now, the gap is closing. In January 2018 when CR7 gets the next Ballon D'Or there'd be no gap.

It's embarrassing that Messi lost the lead and not a surprise to us CR7 fans. We always knew it was more about the Barca team and less about LM10.

Good night.

-Lord

Shori:
Let me disillusion you. Barca didn't play the same Juventus two seasons ago. They played a weaker version. That was a Juventus with a Conte, not Allegri. A Juventus without Alves. A less defensive Juventus! In the end, one team won a double!

MikeB3:
Cristiano Ronaldo is better than his Lionel Messi..... Respect to the work of the Argentine thus far! However, the statistics, individual and collective success of the Portuguese captain speaks volume of who is the best amongst the them. Enough of this debate jare. Cristiano is a better footballer!

Mathkid007:
Lengthy Trash

boookworm:
Rumours has it that Messi is still at the Bernabeu lifting his shirt

Konami94:
What statistics? Messi has a better goal ratio than him, more trophies than him, more individual honours than him. When you watch them play, you can clearly see who's the better footballer. Ronaldo only started to catch up to Messi during the last 4 years after Barcelona declined. Messi has scored 57 goals from a deeper position this season. Ronaldo has around 42 goals playing as a top striker.

LordAdam16:
You are a LM10 fan, don't make absurd claims.

Messi is not better than Ronaldo. And I'm sick of the talent card or that he is more fun to watch.

All Messi does is glue the ball to his feet and run past players. That's all he does.

And if you want to talk about if that is the most entertaining thing in football. Then you didn't watch Ronaldinho play.

What Ronaldinho, Zizinho, Garrincha did with the ball, Pele, Maradona, and Messi can't fathom. Those people made football an art form.

Messi went to Barca at age 13 and trained at La Masia for at least 7 hours per day for 5 years before his debut. The only thing he has above Xavi and Iniesta is dribbling and goal scoring. In creativity, vision, passing, he is not at the same level as those two unsung heroes.

And that brings me to my main point, the game of football rewards goal scorers and achievers. That's how we measure the best players. Add a bit of skill, dribbling, or flair, and there's a straight ticket to the hall of fame.

If Messi wasn't scoring goals he wouldn't win a Ballon D'or. Ditto for Ronaldo.

Look at Barcelona's squad of 2009-2013? Replace Messi with any world class player from Neymar to Hazard to Dybala and they'd win the exact same number of trophies and Ballon D'ors that Messi won. If that same world class player played for Barcelona from 13 years of age, it'd be just as easy for the player.

In fact, this is the first time you'd be hearing this, but Barcelona didn't need Messi in that time period to win trophies. The proof is in the fact that between 2008 and 2013, the Spanish National Team was without doubt the best team in the world and won every tournament they participated in. Messi was not in that team, but the core of the team was Barcelona.

On the flip side, look at Ronaldo. When he was younger he was great at showboating but wasn't as clinical as he is now. Ronaldo started winning Ballon D'ors when he started achieving and he played in teams (sporting lisbon, manchester united, and real madrid) that were about critical, ruthless finishing than beautiful possession football and he adapted his game appropriately. Messi on the other hand played in a team that is about entertaining, possession football and that became his identity.

Ronaldo does not have to dribble 5 players to score a goal, because that is unnecessary in Madrid's team. In fact from Man U, Sir Alex had already weaned him of less flair and made him concentrate more on his clinical ability. Messi does not even have to dribble 5 players to score a goal, because the entire Barcelona team can pass a ball into the net. Spain won games and tournaments without a player running past multiple players to score or lay a pass.

But when you talk about Ronaldo's clinical ability, there is no word to describe it. The timing of his runs, positioning, goal scoring technique is all down to intelligence and being a smarter player overall. He knows he doesn't have to showboat, he has passed that stage. All his showboating won him 1 Ballon D'or and 1 champions league. His clinical ability and goal scoring got him 3 Ballon D'or's, 3 champions league, 1 Euro cup, and 5 consecutive UEFA golden boots. If you are Ronaldo, what would you do then, more showboating, or just honing your clinical ability and becoming the best finisher in the history of the sport?

There's Isco, Modric, Kroos, Casemiro to do all the passing, all he has to do is be part of the ruthless attack and finish where necessary or make an assist. Even when Barcelona was at their top form, he was outscoring Messi consistently scoring 50 goals per year since 2010, getting Real Madrid to the Semi Finals of the UEFA Champions league, and trailing Barcelona in the league. This was in a time of inconsistency in the Bernabeu (Perez sold Ozil and Di Maria in their prime) and this was without the Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets midfield (the best midfield post-2000) that Messi had.

Just look at the difference. Messi is out there running past Alavez players in a Copa Del Rey final, while Ronaldo is making himself available to make clinical finishes against the best defense of the season. Allegri said that even if they gave Barcelona an extra hour, they still wouldn't have found the back of the net. Ronaldo found it in 20 minutes. Found a second 40 minutes later. Look at his second goal yesterday. Modric did not even look before crossing the ball into the area, but Ronaldo anticipated the run and positioned himself to rattle the mighty BBC defense and slot past the goalkeeper legend, something the entire MSN couldn't do in 120 minutes.

Give me that versus Messi's run and I'll choose Ronaldo's clinical ability everyday.

As at 2012 in the peak of Messi's career on the back of an unbelievable Barcelona team, he had 4 Ballon D'ors to Ronaldo's 1. 3 Champions league to Ronaldo's 1. In 2012, the jury was out already that Messi was miles ahead because despite Ronaldo becoming an accomplished goal scorer and skillful player, he just wasn't getting the results that Messi got.

Fast forward 5 years and Ronaldo has won 3 of the last 4 champion's leagues, and is set to win 4 of the last 5 Ballon D'Ors, and is the top UEFA goal scorer for each of the last 5 years. This is at a time of his career when he should be declining.

The difference between Messi and Ronaldo is evident in this year's UEFA goal tally. Messi had 11 versus Ronaldo's 2 before the knockout stages. Yet Ronaldo outscored Messi. Give me that versus running past players, and I'd choose the former everyday. That's what makes Ronaldo the better player. He doesn't have a peak. He keeps outdoing himself because he doesn't have a competition.

Without Suarez and Xavi, Messi wouldn't have had the treble in '15. And since then it has been downhill for him and his team. And the future is even more bleak for him going forward as Iniesta withers off. I wouldn't write him off, but as long as Ronaldo keeps breaking records and redefining what it means to be the greatest player to have ever played the game, the accolades would keep coming his way.

Messi plays amazing football, but in modern football love goes to the top achievers and goal scorers. After all, goals earn points. Most of the love Messi gets right now is because of what he achieved in 2009-2013. All of the love Ronaldo gets right now is because of what he keeps achieving since 2007.

Notice how I did not even talk about international duty? Or about Ronaldo adapting and achieving phenomenal results in two different leagues?

So, as I said, you are an LM10 fan. Every CR7 fan knows why CR7 is better than Messi. That's the passage of rites to becoming a CR7 fan.

-Lord

Konami94:
Nobody considers Ronaldo the greatest player ever. Go and check it anywhere. And the issue of Ronaldo adapting in two different leagues doesn't make any sense because that's how his life turned out. If he had started his career in Madrid, he would not have gone to any other club, as it would be a step down. You don't leave NNPC to go and work in a filling station, just to prove a point, you don't leave CBN to go and work in a microfinance bank just to prove you can adapt, even if the salaries were almost the same thing. Messi leaving Barcelona to any other team apart from Madrid would have been a step down. And I'm pretty sure you know he can't go to Madrid.

Mexico09:
In as much I am Barcelona fan I think Cr7 is a great goal scorer while Messi is a great dribbler.
And this Madrid team coupled with their coach is wey better than Barcelona's this season.

freshdude99:
Wrong argument!
Where was messi the day juventus distroyed barca 3-0?

Okaka27:
Where was Ronaldo when Barca destroyed Madrid 0-4

ogbonti:
Messi was clueless against Juventus home and away
CR7 made Juventus look like Igbobi college team

Now who is better?

Secrets11:
So because CR7 won last night he has suddenly become better than Messi? We all. Watched both guys go head-to-head in their last El Classico and please remind me who came out tops? Messi of course dismantled real Madrid while CR7 was no where to be found. Juventus wasn't an opposition that could trouble Madrid so my brother no even compare both guys because Messi is the best amongst the two guys

Okaka27:
Where was Ronaldo when Barca destroyed Madrid 0-4

bejick:
same Juventus that slam barca 3-0 abegiiiiii

Prechy08:
What Is this one saying? Have forgotten that same juventus put barca out of the competition? Did messi play in both legs? Now you bought el clasico who became la liga champion?

freshdude99:
Wrong argument!
Where was messi the day juventus distroyed barca 3-0?

humilitypays:
No, Ronaldo is just too lucky, no special talent in his footballing skill....he can't dribble, can't do leg-over, can't skip, etc but can run....he is just lucky that after his teammates finishes the job, he will be at the right place at the right time to kick the ball into the net.

Messi is skillful, talented but not as lucky as Cristiano Ronaldo...Arjen Robben is even more gifted than Cristiano, but luck has never been on his side just like Garreth B.....no wonder the Bible said, the race is not for the swift nor the wise, but of God who showeth mercy....grace is all we need to succeed in life not even talent cos so many talented people are hungry and wasting while some fortunate people are making it big like my uncle Goodluck Jonathan who operates under the power of grace and divine favor!

God is also favoring Cristiano because he is so kind and generous; all his childhood friends are feeding and balling with his wealth...he takes care of them and many more unlike Messi and other stingy people who don't know that God blessed them to bless people around them....God loves kind and generous people but hates prideful, pompous and wicked people, even if they prosper, their success doesn't last like kind/generous people, be kind to your friends and family from today if God has blessed u

Mathkid007:
So scoring against Juve is now the criteria of the best player, yhu must be joking. Now when Barca (LM10) and Madrid (CR7) played, LM10 floored Madrid by dribbling the life out of Casemiro, Carvajal, Ramos and he scored twice including the decisive one in the last minute while your CR7 was bottling the easy tap-ins he was gifted and even missed an empty net.
So who is better?

Icon79:
Bro, like I said, what's killing Cristiano along with all Real Madrid is inferiority complex. Anytime Real wins something, the next thing you'd see is for them to start trolling Messi. But unfortunately for them, Messi doesn't even know that they exist. Leo is playing for history, Cristiano is playing for Messi.

Cristiano today is not even the best player at Real Madrid talkless of being the best player in the world. His game is based on speed and positioning, but today he has lost the speed leaving him only with getting himself in position. The only thing he does on the field these days is to position himself for easy tap ins. gosh, even Sergio Ramos confirmed that Cristiano is not expected to provide any defensive cover!

Yet some folks wanna compare him with Messi, because he score goals. Think about it, Messi is actually an AM now but he still scored more goals than Cristiano. And in addition, all goals are not created equal either. For instance, you can't compare the goals scored by Mandzukic and Casemiro with the two tap ins by Cristiano. Hence, goal for goal, Messi has scored more creative and more enticing goals than Ronaldo. But over and above that, Messi's game is not even dependent on goals ... Leo is complete footballer.

If someone wants to argue that Cristiano is the best goal scorer in the world then we can talk about that but being the best footballer in the world takes a lot more than goal scoring to achieve that honor. Or else, there's no way that Zinadin Zidane would've won the best player in the world because Zidane didn't score a lot of goals.

Again, let me repeat myself, anybody who really want to compare Messi and Cristiano should compare the stats: # of assists; # of dribbles, # of completed passes, # of tackles won, etc. etc. It's only when it comes to Messi vs Cristiano that these morons only think in terms of goals. If football is only judged in terms of goals, how then did Kante win the EPL player of the year? How many goals did he score??

Bizarre people!!!

O pari

tocdee:
I follow the Spanish League and I can't understand the comparison. Messi is a class above Ronaldo in terms of all round play. I can say that he's by far the best passer of the ball I've ever seen. He offers more to the game and I'd pay to watch him play over and over again.

By the way, Ronaldo is an awesome footballer but come on guys...he only scores goals, mainly tap ins.

Mathkid007:
So scoring against Juve is now the criteria of the best player, yhu must be joking. Now when Barca (LM10) and Madrid (CR7) played, LM10 floored Madrid by dribbling the life out of Casemiro, Carvajal, Ramos and he scored twice including the decisive one in the last minute while your CR7 was bottling the easy tap-ins he was gifted and even missed an empty net.
So who is better?

Icon79:
Bro, like I said, what's killing Cristiano along with all Real Madrid is inferiority complex. Anytime Real wins something, the next thing you'd see is for them to start trolling Messi. But unfortunately for them, Messi doesn't even know that they exist. Leo is playing for history, Cristiano is playing for Messi.

Cristiano today is not even the best player at Real Madrid talkless of being the best player in the world. His game is based on speed and positioning, but today he has lost the speed leaving him only with getting himself in position. The only thing he does on the field these days is to position himself for easy tap ins. gosh, even Sergio Ramos confirmed that Cristiano is not expected to provide any defensive cover!

Yet some folks wanna compare him with Messi, because he score goals. Think about it, Messi is actually an AM now but he still scored more goals than Cristiano. And in addition, all goals are not created equal either. For instance, you can't compare the goals scored by Mandzukic and Casemiro with the two tap ins by Cristiano. Hence, goal for goal, Messi has scored more creative and more enticing goals than Ronaldo. But over and above that, Messi's game is not even dependent on goals ... Leo is complete footballer.

If someone wants to argue that Cristiano is the best goal scorer in the world then we can talk about that but being the best footballer in the world takes a lot more than goal scoring to achieve that honor. Or else, there's no way that Zinadin Zidane would've won the best player in the world because Zidane didn't score a lot of goals.

Again, let me repeat myself, anybody who really want to compare Messi and Cristiano should compare the stats: # of assists; # of dribbles, # of completed passes, # of tackles won, etc. etc. It's only when it comes to Messi vs Cristiano that these morons only think in terms of goals. If football is only judged in terms of goals, how then did Kante win the EPL player of the year? How many goals did he score??

Bizarre people!!!

O pari

lodphil:
So then why did FIFA had to extend d balon d'or voting in 2013 to help ronaldo after he scored a hatrick against Sweden.He later worn d balon d'or even though he didn't win any trophy that season.

Messi worn the league and riberry that worn treble that season were clearly leading the votes.

Messi has never worn any balon d'or without any trophy or lots of goals.
And I tell u again that messi will both out score,out assist and even have more trophies than ronaldo b4 he retires.
With messi's pattern of football,he can play for another good 7 years,and he's younger than ronaldo.