24 Feb 2015 23:12:31
As much as I love Ronaldo and I bloody love Ronaldo, this guy Messi is for me a little above him. Ronaldo is a physical marvel, powerful, athletic and scores a hatful of goals. He is pretty much your ideal type of player.
But this guy Messi. He is small, not the quickest and not very athletic yet he can do things with the ball that should theoretically be physically impossible given his stature and attributes. The way he glides and the way he keeps the ball so close to his body at all times even in the tightest areas is unreal. I have seen nothing like him.
I read a few months ago that folk on here were saying that Messi has peaked, he fades away on the big stages and isn't what he used to be. Yet over those same months I have seen him bag goal after goal, create goals and lead Barca to many victories almost single handedly. Plus he got the golden ball at the WC finals.
I also don't buy into the fact that Messi and Ronaldo have had great players around them. Yes they have had top teammates but it can also be argued that both players make the players around them great also. Messi and Ronaldo make space, create chances and drop into holes to help the team (especially Messi).
Even Paul Scholes stated the other week that Messi was better than anything he has came across in his entire career. He went as far as saying that before the Champions League final he prayed Messi would take up as many positions away from him as possible.
I know we all love Ronny but Messi is something else.
{Ed007's Note - (headbang)
25 Feb 2015 07:40:15
JMB, I love Messi and he was influencing games more thanRonaldo but in the least couple of years I think the roles have bee reversed. Whether Messi has stalled or Ronaldo has simply gone onto another level is up for debate but right now, I think Ronaldo is able to take a game by the scruff of the neck more than Messi is.
25 Feb 2015 08:44:30
If we were to list individual traits, it would be interesting to see people's opinions. Mine may be a little biased as a Cr7 fan but I'd say :
Pace/Speed Cr7
Headers: Cr7
Dribble: Messi
Strength/power: Cr7
Both Feet: Cr7
Shot accuracy : Messi
Shot Power: Cr7
Control: Messi
Freekicks: Cr7
Defence : Cr7
25 Feb 2015 09:03:01
If I could only watch one more player ever, it would be Messi. If I needed one player for my team, it would be Ronaldo.
25 Feb 2015 09:13:31
The simple point is there's lots Messi lacks which Ronaldo has in his locker, but there's nothing Messi can do that Ronaldo cannot. The best player in world football currently is Ronaldo. The last few years Ronaldo has overtaken Messi.
25 Feb 2015 09:20:42
I would go for messi although i think he has got lazy .
He had a go for 45 minutes yesterday but he could do that for 90.
25 Feb 2015 09:33:39
MBD that is exactly my point. You look at all the attributes and the majority of them Ronaldo is probably superior in. Ronaldo is a physical marvel. But Messi is small, puny even. The way he influences games with a lack of physicality and power is baffling. I personally believe that we will see the likes of Ronaldo again (he is the epitome of hard work) whereas I can't see a replicate of a player in the form of Messi.
I love Ronaldo. He is on par with Scholesy as the greatest I have ever seen in a red shirt but Messi is this unbelievable enigma of a footballer. The way he glides, the way he is one step ahead of everyone and his technique is something else completely.
AJH - I hear what you are saying but when you put it into perspective in 2009/10, 2011/12 2012/13 he outscored Ronaldo and in 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14 and so far in 2014 Messi has provided more assists. The years in which Ronaldo outscored Messi in La Liga in 2013/14 and so far this season is only by three goals.
When you factor in he had a couple of long lay offs during these periods then if that's a player taking his foot off the gas I'd be frightened to see him out his foot down!
25 Feb 2015 09:51:31
Messi is the best player in the world and even though i hate saying it.
BTW folks i picked Barcelona to win the CL and still believe they will do so.
25 Feb 2015 12:21:43
He won the golden ball at the world cup but what did he do? Remember these are the same people who gave a world cup to Qatar.
25 Feb 2015 14:10:33
Mbd, I would add two hugely important areas where Messi is superior: touch and passing. Both are unbelievable goalscorers. But Messi is equally one of the best passers and creators in the world, both of which cannot be said of Ronaldo.
For me, Messi is still the best player in the world. Ronaldo amazes us with his goals and sometimes with his final ball. Messi just leaves you in complete wonder all over the pitch: touch, feints, combining, vision, besides all his goals.
It is also interesting to see how they are both changing their roles as they age. Ronaldo is moving from being a winger to a pure striker, even if he nominally lines up on the left wing. Messi might line up on the right wing in their current setup, but he has changed from a false nine under Pep to more of a number ten now. Much of his game now revolves more around creating chances as well as finishing them.
25 Feb 2015 18:00:59
Messi is still the best player in the world IMO. Ronnie is a machine and it does not take away anything from his achievements, on the other hand, what Messi does is just beautiful. Syd - You are having a laugh mate when you say that there is nothing Messi can do that Ronnie cannot!
Deeps.
26 Feb 2015 08:49:34
Zidaniel,
I agree with the passing bit, the touch though i will liken to control.