Messi v Ronaldo | Contains double your daily salt allowance

Messi or Ronaldo

  • Messi

  • Ronaldo

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Irish Jet said:
To say Ronaldo wasn't comparable to Messi at his peak is ridiculous. Ronaldo was utterly phenomenal a few years ago - Just a relentless machine that always impacted the game. The idea that he was a penalty/tap in merchant is quite laughable. He was a complete footballer.

Now the comparisons are moot - He's clearly declining while Messi is still at his best. Messi will unquestionably go down in history as the better player but Ronaldo was a very worthy rival and shouldn't be far behind him.
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His last 4 Balon d'or have come from being the tap/penalty tap in merchant

His game has regressed massively and he won more awards for it that is where the bitterness comes in from my end

Messi has improved his game over the years and Ronaldo has changed it to better his goalscoring and nothing else

Before he made that transition under Ancelotti to just focus on being a box player I agree he had a great all round game and was closer to Messi then than he was since he started increasing his goalscoring

In the last 2 season's it hasn't even been a competition as Messi is levels above the current Ronaldo
 
matherto said:
Brazilian Ronaldo and Ronaldinho were still better than both.

No amount of stats or proof will take that away. Don't care about arguments because you're all wrong if you don't agree.
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Guess what, I disagree. I loved both Ronaldo and Ronaldinho but Messi is the best I have ever seen and by a distance.
 
If Ronaldo wins the World Cup with Portugal being the main man and scoring lots of goals, think he will be regarded higher then Messi.
 
Vialli_92 said:
His last 4 Balon d'or have come from being the tap/penalty tap in merchant

His game has regressed massively and he won more awards for it that is where the bitterness comes in from my end

Messi has improved his game over the years and Ronaldo has changed it to better his goalscoring and nothing else

Before he made that transition under Ancelotti to just focus on being a box player I agree he had a great all round game and was closer to Messi then than he was since he started increasing his goalscoring

In the last 2 season's it hasn't even been a competition as Messi is levels above the current Ronaldo
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:lol:

Only if you value winning nothing of note rather than winning the big trophies.

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On current form, Messi is well ahead. I think Ronaldo might well be on a downward curve in his career anyway. I don't think much of the rumours about him coming back to United in the summer, it would cost a hell of a lot of money that probably wouldn't be worth the investment.
 
Imagine lying on your death bed thinking about all your achievements and regrets in life and then suddenly it pops into your head "damnit, I never did win that argument over who was better out of Messi & Ronaldo".
 
Stats don't tell us the way they actually played.

Ronaldo has passed it, maybe he's finally ran out of hunger.

Messi seems to be playing some of his best football in a while. He's either scoring or assisting at the moment, and when he isn't - he's just making a mockery of the opposition.
 
ZAGREB RED said:
On current form, Messi is well ahead. I think Ronaldo might well be on a downward curve in his career anyway. I don't think much of the rumours about him coming back to United in the summer, it would cost a hell of a lot of money that probably wouldn't be worth the investment.
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Current form being the last few months? Funny how this time last year many people said the same thing, and we all know what happened in the CL knockout stage.
 
Hernandez - BFA said:
Stats don't tell us the way they actually played.

Ronaldo has passed it, maybe he's finally ran out of hunger.

Messi seems to be playing some of his best football in a while. He's either scoring or assisting at the moment, and when he isn't - he's just making a mockery of the opposition.
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So when he's not scoring or assisting, he's making a mockery of the opposition? Any example?
 
Cal? has the worst case of Stockholm Syndrome since Patty Hearst.
 
ZAGREB RED said:
On current form, Messi is well ahead. I think Ronaldo might well be on a downward curve in his career anyway. I don't think much of the rumours about him coming back to United in the summer, it would cost a hell of a lot of money that probably wouldn't be worth the investment.
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To be fair, Ronaldo is arguably having his worst season since 2005-2006, while Messi is playing extremely good. In current form Messi is the best player in the world, while Ron doesn't even make the top 10, so obviously Messi is well ahead.
 
Kinsella said:
I do. I'm just applying it to a psychological 'hostage' instead of a physical one. ;)
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You have to have been taken prisoner, and I’m pretty sure that Cal has been banging on about Ronaldo for 12,045 days.
 
I may have said this before, but damn, it's such a great point I'm going to make it again:

If both Messi and Ronaldo scored half the goals they have, we'd still be discussing Messi as one of the greatest ever players due to his all round ability. Ronaldo wouldn't be involved in that discussion.

Messi is clearly better, I win the argument, and my dad is stronger than yours.
 
matherto said:
Brazilian Ronaldo and Ronaldinho were still better than both.

No amount of stats or proof will take that away. Don't care about arguments because you're all wrong if you don't agree.
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Not better but more fun to watch, absolutely. I'd add Maradona, Zidane and Laudrup as well.

Messi is about economy of movement, so his dribbling and overall play was never as exciting as some other greats. His personality also didn't allow him to be the most spirited player like Diego ever was so that's why i don't consider him the best of all time.

To be the GOAT you gotta have that extra flair, poetry, to make football a bit like a beautiful melody. I'd just leave him amongst the best of all time and i believe it's the right thing to say because, in the end, it becomes a bit of personal taste.
 
Of course Messi is better than Ronaldo. Ronaldo did deserve the last Ballon D'Or however, for what he did in the final stages of the Champions League. Probably the only one he actually deserved besides 2008.

However, if the question is who is the better player, there's really little doubt about it. It amazes me how many opponent coaches and players hail Messi as the best player ever, when his career is not even over yet. He does things no player has ever done before.
 
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I think most people fail to understand the huge difference on modern football compared to even 10 years ago. Today it's very difficult, if not impossible, to win the golden ball if you're not an highly professional footballer. The consistency shown by Messi/Ronaldo is not just because they are freaks of nature but also because of how football is today.

There's way more control on player lives and players are required to withstand high levels of pressure throughout longer periods. If Messi and Ronaldo had less consistency they wouldn't win all ballon d'ors like they have been doing, simple as that.

If we are unbiased and remember some greats of a previous era, there are numerous players with as much or even more talent than these two. But how many had the conditions, the system, the professional model life combined so all their potential could blossom? CR7 in that regard was the braver of the two. Changing leagues twice, adapting to new systems whilst Messi was nurtured for that very specific style since early age.

What would have happened if the Brazilian Ronaldo played in Barca's super team built around him all his professional career? What about Maradona without the drugs? or Ronaldinho without the night life and parties?

I guess that "ability" to lead such controlled professional life also reflects a lack of boldness that the others had in a way. It is perhaps impossible to find a player that shows the flamboyance from the streets with the sheer robotic almost inhuman clinical efficiency of Messi and CR7. Except, well maybe Pele and, to a lesser extent, Eusebio?
 
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I actually think if 1 of the 2 existed without the other then they'd be little debate that the 1 left was the greatest ever.

They'd have something like 10 world player of the years and have pretty much broken every record possible. Easily the best 2 players ever.

Really don't care about people's international achievements. 7 games. Every 4 years where you only play maybe 3 good teams. You don't decide a greatest ever based on that
 
broccoli said:
I think most people fail to understand the huge difference on modern football compared to even 10 years ago. Today it's very difficult, if not impossible, to win the golden ball if you're not an highly professional footballer. The consistency shown by Messi/Ronaldo is not just because they are freaks of nature but also because of how football is today.

There's way more control on player lives and players are required to withstand high levels of pressure throughout longer periods. If Messi and Ronaldo had less consistency they wouldn't win all ballon d'ors like they have been doing, simple as that.

If we are unbiased and remember some greats of a previous era, there are numerous players with as much or even more talent than these two. But how many had the conditions, the system, the professional mode life combined so all their potential could blossom? CR7 in that regard was the braver of the two. Changing leagues twice, adapting to new systems whilst Messi was nurtured for that very specific style since early age.

What would have happened if the Brazilian Ronaldo played in Barca's super team built around him all his professional career? What about Maradona without the drugs? or Ronaldinho without the night life and parties?

I guess that "ability" to lead such controlled professional life also reflects that lack of boldness that the others had in a way. It is perhaps impossible to find a player that has the flamboyance from the streets with the sheer robotic almost inhuman clinical efficiency of Messi and CR7. Except, well maybe Pele and, to a lesser extent, Eusebio?
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If you're discounting lifestyle and actual desire to train the greatest sprinter ever is probably some fat bloke led on a couch somewhere. You can't make allowances for maradona and Ronaldinho because they were unprofessional
 
Gareth williams said:
I actually think if 1 of the 2 existed without the other then they'd be little debate that the 1 left was the greatest ever.

They'd have something like 10 world player of the years and have pretty much broken every record possible. Easily the best 2 players ever.

Really don't care about people's international achievements. 7 games. Every 4 years where you only play maybe 3 good teams. You don't decide a greatest ever based on that
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I’m pretty sure if you asked most pundits/ journalists if C Ronaldo is/ was better than Diego M, most would say no. In fact, I cant find anyone (apart from himself and his agent) claim Cristiano to be the best ever. He just isn’t thought of that highly. Messi, on the other hand...
 
Moving this here, to not congest that Cristiano thread.

Peyroteo said:
Because that difference comes from the amount of games Ronaldo played earlier on in his career as a right winger in a 4-4-2
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for debate's sake lets take it from the season Ronnie played in Madrid.
Messi has 454 goals from 458 appearances(0.99 goal per game) and 423 goals from 431 appearances(1.01 goal per game).
Not exactly something which clearly puts Ronaldo as the greatest goal machine over Messi.
 
Lord SInister said:
Moving this here, to not congest that Cristiano thread.

for debate's sake lets take it from the season Ronnie played in Madrid.
Messi has 454 goals from 458 appearances(0.99 goal per game) and 423 goals from 431 appearances(1.01 goal per game).
Not exactly something which clearly puts Ronaldo as the greatest goal machine over Messi.
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Just a small typo, Ronaldo has 431 goals in 423 appearances (your ratio is correct, it is 1.02, which means it was a typo).

It's interesting that since Ronaldo came to Madrid in La Liga Messi has better numbers in both goals and assists (also goals and assists/game), while in the CL Ronaldo has the better numbers in both goals and assists (also goals anda assists/game).

(I'm one of the few that say they are at the same level and just have different strengths and weaknesses, weird right lol)
 
Camara said:
Just a small typo, Ronaldo has 431 goals in 423 appearances (your ratio is correct, it is 1.02, which means it was a typo).

It's interesting that since Ronaldo came to Madrid in La Liga Messi has better numbers in both goals and assists (also goals and assists/game), while in the CL Ronaldo has the better numbers in both goals and assists (also goals anda assists/game).

(I'm one of the few that say they are at the same level and just have different strengths and weaknesses, weird right lol)
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I personally like both, although you can call me one of those bitter assholes who are still pissed with Cristiano and his "I am slave, I am sad" stuff during his last year here.

As for liking as a player, I prefer to watch Messi, and feel technically he is much ahead of Ronnie, and overall a better player, but if Ronnie keeps on going winning UCLs like they are Super Cups, he might in the end be seen as a more accomplished player, unless of course if Messi wins the World Cup.
 
I think people value dribbling and on the ball technique a bit too much when it comes to discussing greatest of all time. Anyone that thinks Messi is better than Ronaldo, I won't argue with them because that is a very valid opinion -- I disagree with it but I accept I may be wrong and that indeed Messi may be better/greater than Ronnie.

But if anyone says Ronaldo is no where close to Messi in the all time greats chart and it's comfortable, that's just fanboyism/inability to appreciate Ronaldo for his amazing skills.

At the end of the day, when it comes to the greatest of all time I highly rate the following: mentality, determination, leadership, nervous etc and most importantly of all (which I believe is the most valued and difficult skill in football is goal scoring.

For me Ronaldo is better than Messi in the departments I believe truly make a player the greatest/one of the greatest. Like I said earlier, if you're going to argue with me that Messi is the greatest because he is just as good a goal scorer and is as mentally strong but a better dribbler too then I will disagree with you but I can understand that POV -- it is a valid argument.

But if you're going to come out and say it's not even close because Messi can dribble past 5 plays and is a play maker while Ronaldo "just scores goals" then that's just bullshit.
 
Camara said:
Just a small typo, Ronaldo has 431 goals in 423 appearances (your ratio is correct, it is 1.02, which means it was a typo).

It's interesting that since Ronaldo came to Madrid in La Liga Messi has better numbers in both goals and assists (also goals and assists/game), while in the CL Ronaldo has the better numbers in both goals and assists (also goals anda assists/game).

(I'm one of the few that say they are at the same level and just have different strengths and weaknesses, weird right lol)
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This is the most fair assessment. We are all basing who is better based on what we value more in a player. As a Ronaldo fan it is annoying people underrate goal scoring. If Messi had half the amount of goals as Ronaldo he would not be discussed in these discussions.
 
shamans said:
I think people value dribbling and on the ball technique a bit too much when it comes to discussing greatest of all time. Anyone that thinks Messi is better than Ronaldo, I won't argue with them because that is a very valid opinion -- I disagree with it but I accept I may be wrong and that indeed Messi may be better/greater than Ronnie.

But if anyone says Ronaldo is no where close to Messi in the all time greats chart and it's comfortable, that's just fanboyism/inability to appreciate Ronaldo for his amazing skills.

At the end of the day, when it comes to the greatest of all time I highly rate the following: mentality, determination, leadership, nervous etc and most importantly of all (which I believe is the most valued and difficult skill in football is goal scoring.

For me Ronaldo is better than Messi in the departments I believe truly make a player the greatest/one of the greatest. Like I said earlier, if you're going to argue with me that Messi is the greatest because he is just as good a goal scorer and is as mentally strong but a better dribbler too then I will disagree with you but I can understand that POV -- it is a valid argument.

But if you're going to come out and say it's not even close because Messi can dribble past 5 plays and is a play maker while Ronaldo "just scores goals" then that's just bullshit.
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It's not about dribbling or tekkers.

It's the fact that while a debate can be had regarding who is the better goalscorer between Messi and Ronaldo (and the margins are thin on that), there is no question that concerning playmaking, or pulling the strings of the attack, Messi blows Ronaldo out of the water in that sector of the game. If you discount that skill to the point where Ronaldo is close to, or exceeds Messi in the GOAT rankings, then you're just deceiving yourself.
 
It should be about who brings you the most joy as a football fan. You could give me a 10 minute video of Messi highlights and a 2 hour one of Ronaldo’s and I’d just be more impressed with what messi does, it’s better to watch.
 
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There is 100% no debate on who the better goal scorer is. They are both an unequivocal 10/10 and you leave it at that.
 
Arbitrium said:
It should be about who brings you the most joy as a football fan. You could give me a 10 minute video of media highlights and a 2 hour one of Ronaldo’s and I’d just be more impressed with what messi does, it’s better to watch.
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If I just want to watch highlights in terms of beautiful goals, I would pick Ronaldinho or Zlatan over Messi and Ronaldo.
 
shamans said:
As a Ronaldo fan it is annoying people underrate goal scoring. If Messi had half the amount of goals as Ronaldo he would not be discussed in these discussions.
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except no one is underrating Ronaldo's goalscoring. it's just that it's Ronaldo's biggest strength and only possible advantage over Messi, yet Messi is equally good at that, but is also equally good and dribbling and playmaking.

and that's why Ronaldo's numbers aren't really important in this discussion and neither are Messi's, because they are both unbelievable at finishing and they both score at similar/comparable rate. there's no point in discussing about something that is so obvious.
 
adexkola said:
It's not about dribbling or tekkers.

It's the fact that while a debate can be had regarding who is the better goalscorer between Messi and Ronaldo (and the margins are thin on that), there is no question that concerning playmaking, or pulling the strings of the attack, Messi blows Ronaldo out of the water in that sector of the game. If you discount that skill to the point where Ronaldo is close to, or exceeds Messi in the GOAT rankings, then you're just deceiving yourself.
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Spot on. Ronaldo's shooting is a bit better than Messi's I'd say but Messi is miles ahead in terms of both dribbling and passing. Those are the only 3 things you can do with the ball, and while it's obvious Ronaldo is a greater physical presence, that doesn't come close to compensating.
 
I'm quite surprised this thread continues, Messi has always been the better player for me. Ronaldo an all-time great, but football is more than just tap-ins and penalties.
 
Pass and Move said:
I may have said this before, but damn, it's such a great point I'm going to make it again:

If both Messi and Ronaldo scored half the goals they have, we'd still be discussing Messi as one of the greatest ever players due to his all round ability. Ronaldo wouldn't be involved in that discussion.

Messi is clearly better, I win the argument, and my dad is stronger than yours.
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Also a very good point, never thought of it like that before.
 
Pass and Move said:
I may have said this before, but damn, it's such a great point I'm going to make it again:

If both Messi and Ronaldo scored half the goals they have, we'd still be discussing Messi as one of the greatest ever players due to his all round ability. Ronaldo wouldn't be involved in that discussion.

Messi is clearly better, I win the argument, and my dad is stronger than yours.
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I concede to you winning the argument but my da's hard as feck mate.
 
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