I am not going to compare anyone but I need to say something here based on my personal opinion related with the fact I think I do have a good understanding of the trajectory by CR7 with Portugal during the years.
(not comparing the 2)
First based on my opinion the best team were he played was the 2004 one. And I don't think that was exactly the best one I watched. The best period was between 1994/2004, even if the results didn't followed the style of play and overall quality of those generations.
He never was part of youth NT's with winning culture like the ones who were leaded by Carlos Queiroz who won 2 under 20 WC's in 1989/1991.
Not did his generations had players with similar quality to him. Ok he played with the likes of Ricardo Carvalho, Moutinho, Nani, Pepe, Quaresma after that period but anyone who follows Portugal will tell you the best NT we had was the one at Euro 2000 (
for those who didn't watched the 66 team), the 2004 team was mainly a Mourinho Porto team with Scolari as a motivational leader.
Only going to add he was 19 at Euro 2004 and to remember a few who said he didn't do much. Scolari on his first match left players like Ricardo Carvalho, Ronaldo, Deco, Nuno Valente on the bench because he was stuck with the old guard.
First match with Greece if I remember well we were losing already and I think he only played 45 minuted and the goal scored was by the inexperienced player from a setpiece. Second game vs Russia we needed to win and Scolari changed half the team but he was still on the bench. What happened? We were winning already, but he and Rui Costa entered during the second half. Guess who made the assist for Rui Costa to score? Exactly. Him.
Last game. Spain. We needed to win. Against our neighbours we probably didn't beat since the late 70's or something similar. He started the game replacing Simão Sabrosa. He had a great impact on that game and was one of the best on the pitch.
Against England his duel against Ashley Cole was great and its a fact he struggled against him. Semifinal against the Netherlands. He scored again from a setpiece. On the final vs Greece where we incompetently bottled again the only good chances we created were all done by him.
This to say you can dismiss everything you want from him but his impact on 2004 was great for us. Football isn't only stats. Its also the impact players have on the pitch even when they don't score or assist.
I have to be honest here. For me the only great game in 2006 was vs France on the semifinal. Again the stats will tell you he didn't scored or assisted. But watch this.
Now if this done by a 21 year player against the team and players it was is nothing relevant I would go and try to start talking about quantum physics for Dummies. I guess Henry and the other players saw the same thing as me.
He clearly was blatantly targeted by Boulahrouz against the Dutch. What goes around comes around and they tasted our nastiness reacting to that. It wasn't pretty but shit happens. On the group stages he clearly wasn't our best player. At all. He only played 2 games and on both of them he was nowhere near the best player on the pitch.
This just to say I agree his overall best tournament for us was in 2012 but he didn't played with the best generations imo. On 2016 I still keep my opinion Nani and Pepe were as important as him, knowing of course it wasn't a great team.
2018 he was better than Messi. Period. Trying to say he barely qualified on the group stages with Iran or Morocco while Argentina was slaughtered vs Croatia, toothless vs Iceland and at best competent vs Nigeria is what? And if we try to say Messi played with worse players than him for Argentina we better close this Forum and go watch something else.
Again, I am not saying he is the best, because I already left my opinions on this subject. But there is a lot of overrating or excuses for both players at International Level without knowing the contexts where they play.
Let alone trying to imply they played on the same circumstances. At best Portugal 2018 was on a similar state individually to Argentina. At best. And he was better in Russia. Of course Messi for Barcelona this season has no one to be compared. He is by far the best club player this season. No discussion here. At all.
Last time I will jump on this thread because its pointless. There is a lot of revisionism going around on both sides and sometimes someone has to spoil the party.
