Cristiano Ronaldo
Discussion
MrMagoo said:
Messi and Ronaldo are two
of the greatest players to play the game IMHO, Forget Pele and Maradona.
Messi for me all day long. Although Cristiano runs him close which is an achievement for him in itself.
Now Maradona did carry a team to WC glory singlehandedly. Fat little cheat he may have been but I can't imagine Ronaldo taking the weekly hiding he got and still perform to the level. Maradona is still the best ever for me, unfortunately. of the greatest players to play the game IMHO, Forget Pele and Maradona.
Messi for me all day long. Although Cristiano runs him close which is an achievement for him in itself.
ikarl said:
Tremendous to have them both in the same generation though.
I think that is a very important point - we are very privileged to be able to see them week in, week out whilst they are both in their prime.To me it matters not which one is better but that we get to see them at all
Thankyou4calling said:
Surely Ronaldo has been at the top of his tree for a lot longer than that. He was outstanding from 2005 to 2009 god United so that's 9 years, scoring lots and winning umpteen awards too and I agree about La Liga. More than a match.
Sorry, didn't make myself clear. I mean compared to Messi who's the youngest of the two, Ronaldo wasn't able to consistently match his form until the last 3/4 years. I agree Ronaldo was none the less incredible before and rightly won the balon D'or, But Messi was on another level and has been for a lot longer IMHO. I love watching them both and will at every opportunity. I guess the question of who's better then who can't be answered fully until both hang up there boots. Hopefully not for a while!
selym said:
MrMagoo said:
Messi and Ronaldo are two
of the greatest players to play the game IMHO, Forget Pele and Maradona.
Messi for me all day long. Although Cristiano runs him close which is an achievement for him in itself.
Now Maradona did carry a team to WC glory singlehandedly. Fat little cheat he may have been but I can't imagine Ronaldo taking the weekly hiding he got and still perform to the level. Maradona is still the best ever for me, unfortunately. of the greatest players to play the game IMHO, Forget Pele and Maradona.
Messi for me all day long. Although Cristiano runs him close which is an achievement for him in itself.
Maradona = overrated
selym said:
Now Maradona did carry a team to WC glory singlehandedly. Fat little cheat he may have been but I can't imagine Ronaldo taking the weekly hiding he got and still perform to the level. Maradona is still the best ever for me, unfortunately.
Great player indeed, but he wasn't scoring anywhere near the amount of goals Ronaldo and Messi are now. Both of whom have eclipsed his personal achievements. I think in this day and age the Champions League is the barometer for football at the highest level where it was the World Cup.
MrMagoo said:
Sorry, didn't make myself clear. I mean compared to Messi who's the youngest of the two, Ronaldo wasn't able to consistently match his form until the last 3/4 years. I agree Ronaldo was none the less incredible before and rightly won the balon D'or, But Messi was on another level and has been for a lot longer IMHO.
I love watching them both and will at every opportunity. I guess the question of who's better then who can't be answered fully until both hang up there boots. Hopefully not for a while!
For me it's just that Ronaldo has been on my radar longer as a united fan.I love watching them both and will at every opportunity. I guess the question of who's better then who can't be answered fully until both hang up there boots. Hopefully not for a while!
I also enjoy his flashier style though he's reduced that now and us more effective for it.
I'm planning a weekend in Madrid in November to take in a game and desperately hope he's playing as that will really be something.
There aren't any players I'd get excited about going to see like that in the prem.
DeltonaS said:
Not singlehandedly, nothing in footbal happens "singlehandedly"
Maradona = overrated
You know what I mean, and if you saw the squad he had round him in '86 then you'd understand. He carried them. How someone who is renowned as one of the best to lace a pair of boots up, overrated is just wrong.Maradona = overrated
Still, it's a game of opinions.
BlackST said:
Messi has done well with the Argentina side but he has got Di Maria, Higuain, Mascherano, Zabaleta all behind him.Was only thinking about this the other day myself. Was always and ever in the Messi camp (because of that connection Ronnie has) but I think I've been swayed. Ronaldo right now I'd the best player in the world. Yes he is in a good Madrid team but the Barcelona team that played/play to let Messi perform wasn't bad either.
Zidane though is still my no.1
Zidane though is still my no.1
DeltonaS said:
MrMagoo said:
I think in this day and age the Champions League is the barometer for football at the highest level where it was the World Cup.
Ofcourse not, always been the Champions Leaque/Europa Cup 1. And back then the Serie A as well. Jules360 said:
DeltonaS said:
MrMagoo said:
I think in this day and age the Champions League is the barometer for football at the highest level where it was the World Cup.
Ofcourse not, always been the Champions Leaque/Europa Cup 1. And back then the Serie A as well. selym said:
Jules360 said:
DeltonaS said:
MrMagoo said:
I think in this day and age the Champions League is the barometer for football at the highest level where it was the World Cup.
Ofcourse not, always been the Champions Leaque/Europa Cup 1. And back then the Serie A as well. ArmaghMan said:
Think some of you have missed my point about carrying a team to the World Cup.
Zidane single handedly won the 98 WC for a mediocre French team.
4 years later in 02 he is injured, doesn't play and France exit early.
In 06 he again leads them almost to the World Cup again.
A mediocre French team? They had some class players! Zidane single handedly won the 98 WC for a mediocre French team.
4 years later in 02 he is injured, doesn't play and France exit early.
In 06 he again leads them almost to the World Cup again.
KareemK said:
Could Messi or Ronaldo do likewise with today's Napoli (or equivalent)?
Not in my opinion, no. Maradona was something special. Overweight most of the time, the wrong shape to be as good as he was, getting kicked every week and he still achieved what he did with what he had. Looking at Ronaldo and Messi though, I think Messi would fare better in those days and could adapt his game better if he did end up a lardass like Maradona. Not that it has anything to do with the original question though, just sayin'!
Currently Ronaldo over Messi for me, but only by a whisker.
Two things for me make the small difference; 1. Ronaldo is a better all-rounder, and because of that, 2. Can carry a team almost single-handedly. Messi has been surrounded by good players and hasn't had to push himself and extend his own abilities like Ronaldo has.
All time? Pele and Zidane top the tree for me; Pele for sheer achievement and ability, ZiZou for the way he played and changed the way the game could be played - his sheer technical ability and bewildering level of ball-control will, IMHO, never be bettered - even watching a mesmerising Messi dribble pales when you subsequently watch a ZiZou trick or flick, or even just a simple pass - he made the game simple and beautiful.
Notable mentions for Cruyff, Best, Moore and Banks; the latter three were all highly rated and most admired by none other Pele.
Maradona? A proven cheat and drug taker - despite his footballing ability can he stand comparison to the names above?
Two things for me make the small difference; 1. Ronaldo is a better all-rounder, and because of that, 2. Can carry a team almost single-handedly. Messi has been surrounded by good players and hasn't had to push himself and extend his own abilities like Ronaldo has.
All time? Pele and Zidane top the tree for me; Pele for sheer achievement and ability, ZiZou for the way he played and changed the way the game could be played - his sheer technical ability and bewildering level of ball-control will, IMHO, never be bettered - even watching a mesmerising Messi dribble pales when you subsequently watch a ZiZou trick or flick, or even just a simple pass - he made the game simple and beautiful.
Notable mentions for Cruyff, Best, Moore and Banks; the latter three were all highly rated and most admired by none other Pele.
Maradona? A proven cheat and drug taker - despite his footballing ability can he stand comparison to the names above?
Ronaldo is the best centre foward in the world right now, but arguably the best player in the world. Vincent Kompany is the best centre back in the world, but also arguably the best player in the world.
I've always thought Iniesta is as good as Messi, but he doesn't score as many goals as Lionel, therefore doesn't get as much credit.
I've always thought Iniesta is as good as Messi, but he doesn't score as many goals as Lionel, therefore doesn't get as much credit.
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