Lionel Messi - Performances
- Thread starter Rado_N
- Start date
He is just pure class, the amount of space he creates for his team mates is insane as well. When he starts making dribbles with the ball the opposition defence just gets stretched so easily and he picks out a lovely pass then.
There was a period when Ronaldo was in better form, I don't think anyone disputes that, but it's abundantly clear that Messi at his best is more or less untouchable and a level above anything Ronaldo's ever produced.
I think Messi is superior to Ronaldo in every respect except long-range shooting, penalties and headers.
A bit annoying that he didn't score, he should have had 4 goals easily over the 2 legs. But the amount of chances he creates is ridiculous and his team mates just end up messing them up.
Pretty much.
Shades of his 2012-2012 form through the last couple of months. A lot of players can score goals on a consistent basis or create moments of magic. But when Messi turns it on, he really stands alone with his ability to take total control of the game. Spellbinding stuff from start to finish, City had no counter for it. It's performances like this, where you can't help but step back and applaud the master.
3 pretty big things though, it could be argued that Ronaldo is faster and he's definitely stronger as well, for the past 2 years Ronaldo has been the better player.
Not taking anything away from Messi on this form he's unstoppable but so is Ronnie.
long range shooting? nah no chance, pretty sure Messi's been getting more goals from outside the box for a long time now. I'm not having stronger either, he gets knocked off the ball a lot easier, I know he looks more impressive physically but still..
I'm pretty sure this is inaccurate statistically (I think it's actually the other way around). No arguments about the other two though.
Not a chance. Ronaldo has a better body, but Messi is way stronger on the pitch.
Agree with that. To be honest I find it hard to believe that anyone can regularly watch both and think that Cristiano is as good as Messi (thinking he's been in better form at times is fair enough). It's an insult to Messi.
Ronnie cant take control of a game like Messi can though. Messi makes everyone around him look average he is that good.
Ronaldo isn't faster, atleast not in a footballing sense. He might be a faster track athlete or a better straight line sprinter but Messi is more agile, shiftier, defter and can change directions in an easier fashion because of his lower turning radius making him harder to defend against on the pitch. Agree with the strength part though, it works in Ronaldo's favor because he can gain significant momentum as a result of his bulk and burst.
Can't agree with the last point either. Messi on form is both a lethal scorer and is increasingly coming into prominence as creative fulcrum for Barcelona with Iniesta and Xavi's decline. In comparison with that, Ronaldo doesn't have the creative ability anymore (one could argue it has declined progressively ever since he redefined himself as a roving wide forward and started scoring high volume goals) and has become more of a specialized final third threat.
He was in some sort of crisis right. 
Whatever 'Ronnie' can do Messi can do better, except penalties and headers all right.
Whatever 'Ronnie' can do Messi can do better, except penalties and headers all right.
Messi playing from the right and getting the ball more from deep (whilst having Suarez through the middle) is fun. Its like when he first started out and grew into the majestic player.
I just love the way he comes to a standstill, slows the defender down, then just goes. Its crazy.
I just love the way he comes to a standstill, slows the defender down, then just goes. Its crazy.
Never seen a poor header from Messi, he's just shorter so it doesn't happen often. But whenever a ball is at the level of his head, he does brilliantly.
Except Messi scores more long range goals. Maybe Ronaldo has a more powerful shot, but that's only half the story for long range shooting.
Penalties - yes, but that's not an essential element to their games. That is arguably the least important facet of what they do.
Messi is also a very good header, the difference between the two is that Ronaldo is a superior athlete and can compete for headers that Messi cannot.
Seems to be back to his best or somewhere near it.
Sometimes, even if you're not a fan, you've just gotta sit back and watch him. City didn't get near him.
Sometimes, even if you're not a fan, you've just gotta sit back and watch him. City didn't get near him.
All those nutmegs.
shhhh, dont talk to him like that, you might scare him
it's so rare to see one of them alive ...
I feel like I should capture them pokemon style.
Alright so Messi is better at everything then? fair enough, feck knows what I've been watching from Ronaldo over the past 2 years.
Messi has been average (for his very high standard, Messi's average is still better than most players) for the best part of a year, it's only over the last 4-5 weeks that he's finding some form isn't it?
Edit: checked his form and yeah he's been great since January. Still up until then Ronaldo had him beat on every stat (even assists) over the past 18 months.
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Who said he's better at everything?
Yup that's it for me. Goals don't even make him the best.
The dribbling and nutmegging is ridiculous and the weight of his passing is like Pirlo or Scholes. Vision off the charts too.
And how can someone that small be so strong?
It's like cheating. Michael Jordan is the only comparison I can think of.
The dribbling and nutmegging is ridiculous and the weight of his passing is like Pirlo or Scholes. Vision off the charts too.
And how can someone that small be so strong?
It's like cheating. Michael Jordan is the only comparison I can think of.
He often gets the ball out wide near the Centre and always makes something happen with a dribble or a run or a pass short or long.
Then often he finishes the attack with a goal or assist.
Then often he finishes the attack with a goal or assist.
I honestly can't understand how can anyone even compare him to Ronaldo. Only explanation is that you never actually played the game and do not understand how difficult it is to have that balance, passing range, dribbling and vision. Even if he scored 10 goals a season, he would still be held in the same regard as a Zidane. He is like a combo of Zidane, brazilian Ronaldo and add to it more consistency than both of them. Frankly outrageous. In short, yea I agree with you
I honestly can't understand how can anyone even compare him to Ronaldo. Only explanation is that you never actually played the game and do not understand how difficult it is to have that balance, passing range, dribbling and vision. Even if he scored 10 goals a season, he would still be held in the same regard as a Zidane. He is like a combo of Zidane, brazilian Ronaldo and add to it more consistency than both of them. Frankly outrageous. In short, yea I agree with you
It's called bias mate, that's how they can.
Messi is comfortably the better player of the two, but it's no shame for Ronaldo to be #2 (even thought he wouldn't agree).
Is it really though? I like both players, they will both go down has 2 of the greats and Messi on his day is the best player I've ever seen but Ronaldo gives him a run for his money and has been the better player over the last season and half and has a consecutive ballon d'or to show for it.
Confirmation bias to be exact.
No doubt. I think they are the two greatest and best players I have ever seen, and as far as I am concerned they are the two best players ever.
An incomplete list of men who are in their prime and the best at what they do but are still worse at what they do than Messi:
John Oliver - News Satire
Bibi Netanyahu - Fear Mongering
Zach Lowe - NBA Analysis
Kendrick Lamar - Hip Hop (Vocals)
Kanye West - Hip Hop (Production)
Joe Biden - Ultimately meaningless verbal gaffes by a politician
Robert Durst - Blinking after lying
John Oliver - News Satire
Bibi Netanyahu - Fear Mongering
Zach Lowe - NBA Analysis
Kendrick Lamar - Hip Hop (Vocals)
Kanye West - Hip Hop (Production)
Joe Biden - Ultimately meaningless verbal gaffes by a politician
Robert Durst - Blinking after lying
Poor Milner
Ronaldo is a footballer. An athlete. Messi....he's an artist. I'm being a bit dramatic there, but the proof is in watching them.
Messi, at his best, is on his own level. Credit to Ronaldo for his hard work and dedication to stay within touching distance.
The only confirmation you need is to watch them. I've always said, Messi will go down as top 3 GOAT's. For Ronaldo, there's a debate about going down in the top 10 GOAT's, though IMO, even that's arguable because if I'm honest, I'd say the competition with Messi has drained most of Ronaldo's flair from his game.
To him, it's become solely about the numbers. Most of his aesthetics was sacrificed for ruthless efficiency, and yeah, goals is what the game is about but personally, i much rather preferred the Ronaldo running at and beating players for fun.
Great performance again. However you have to admit that Milner`s attacking has been completely headless in that situation.
