| Ronaldo 19:38 - Sep 8 with 7778 views | Marshalls_Mullet |
On the verge of 100 international goals.
If he scores tonight he will become the first European player to achieve this.
What a player. |  |
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| Ronaldo on 21:50 - Sep 8 with 2729 views | Herbivore |
| Ronaldo on 21:38 - Sep 8 by The_Last_Baron |
Ronaldo's cheerleading from the sidelines was vital.
He also got them to the final. |
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| Ronaldo on 21:52 - Sep 8 with 2729 views | J2BLUE |
| Ronaldo on 21:43 - Sep 8 by vapour_trail |
Impossible.
How do you take a view on the relative merits of Leo Messi, Ferenc Puskas, Poul Nielsen. |
Evans didn't try and sign any of them. |  |
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| Ronaldo on 00:03 - Sep 9 with 2685 views | Baggio_is_magic |
The sheer work and determination Ronaldo has shown to becoming the best in the world is absolutely phenomenal. He is the definition of a big game player backed by his incredible record in champions league knockouts. It’s extremely hard to compare him to Messi as they have both been unbelievable throughout their whole careers. I feel truly blessed to have been able to watch both. |  | | |
| Ronaldo on 00:30 - Sep 9 with 2668 views | dominiciawful |
Only eight behind Iran's Ali Daei. |  |
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| Ronaldo on 00:40 - Sep 9 with 2662 views | ArnoldMoorhen |
| Ronaldo on 21:37 - Sep 8 by The_Last_Baron |
I reckon Erling Halland will take over as the greatest in the world. He is an incredible footballer. |
Nah, he'll laugh when Roy Keane's son gets injured and that'll be that for him. |  | | |
| Ronaldo on 09:38 - Sep 9 with 2615 views | dirtyboy |
Ronaldo is a prime example of a motivated individual with a fair amount of talent who also worked incredibly hard.
He's also the type of player who can drag a pretty ordinary team up and win alone.
Messi, one of the all time greats undoubtedly played in the greatest team we've probably ever seen, even I could have scored double figures if i'd have played up front for Barca in their prime!
There's loads to admire about both but Ronaldo edges it for hunger, pure will to win and his growth over the years and pursuing different leagues....he's proven in various teams nowhere near as good as Barcelona. |  | | |
| Ronaldo on 09:44 - Sep 9 with 2605 views | Herbivore |
| Ronaldo on 09:38 - Sep 9 by dirtyboy |
Ronaldo is a prime example of a motivated individual with a fair amount of talent who also worked incredibly hard.
He's also the type of player who can drag a pretty ordinary team up and win alone.
Messi, one of the all time greats undoubtedly played in the greatest team we've probably ever seen, even I could have scored double figures if i'd have played up front for Barca in their prime!
There's loads to admire about both but Ronaldo edges it for hunger, pure will to win and his growth over the years and pursuing different leagues....he's proven in various teams nowhere near as good as Barcelona. |
What about on the main criterion of footballing ability though? On that I don't see how you can think Ronaldo is a better footballer than Messi. | |
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| Ronaldo on 10:04 - Sep 9 with 2600 views | Swansea_Blue |
| Ronaldo on 19:56 - Sep 8 by vapour_trail |
Pointless discussion. |
Pablo innit |  |
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| Ronaldo on 10:11 - Sep 9 with 2589 views | N2_Blue |
| Ronaldo on 09:44 - Sep 9 by Herbivore |
What about on the main criterion of footballing ability though? On that I don't see how you can think Ronaldo is a better footballer than Messi. |
looking purely at ability in terms of technique and natural talent Messi is probably a better footballer. But for me that doesn't necessarilly make him the greatest.
Messi is incredible in a side that plays football like Barca, imagine how good he would have neen in some Arsenal teams of the past. However outside of that environment he can be ineffective and that i think is why he has struggled so much in poor Argentinian teams. He can't carry a side.
Ronaldo on the other hand certainly can. I think he has the ability and all round game (work ethic, aerial ability etc) to make a difference in any side he plays in. He is more of an athlete than Messi. Messi for all his talent i don't think has the same impact on a side in comparison to Ronaldo. Messi is great to have in your side to put 5 goals past the oppo and completely destroy them. In a hard-fought match between two evenly matched teams I'd rather have Ronaldo as I think he is more effective as a match winner.
Therefore for me Ronaldo edges it for me between these two greats who are so far ahead of anyone else it's crazy. We probably won't see there like again for a long time |  |
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| Ronaldo on 10:25 - Sep 9 with 2575 views | Herbivore |
| Ronaldo on 10:11 - Sep 9 by N2_Blue |
looking purely at ability in terms of technique and natural talent Messi is probably a better footballer. But for me that doesn't necessarilly make him the greatest.
Messi is incredible in a side that plays football like Barca, imagine how good he would have neen in some Arsenal teams of the past. However outside of that environment he can be ineffective and that i think is why he has struggled so much in poor Argentinian teams. He can't carry a side.
Ronaldo on the other hand certainly can. I think he has the ability and all round game (work ethic, aerial ability etc) to make a difference in any side he plays in. He is more of an athlete than Messi. Messi for all his talent i don't think has the same impact on a side in comparison to Ronaldo. Messi is great to have in your side to put 5 goals past the oppo and completely destroy them. In a hard-fought match between two evenly matched teams I'd rather have Ronaldo as I think he is more effective as a match winner.
Therefore for me Ronaldo edges it for me between these two greats who are so far ahead of anyone else it's crazy. We probably won't see there like again for a long time |
Their stats in La Liga didn't back that up. Ronaldo scored a much higher proportion of his goals against the lesser sides than Messi did. Their records in El Classico show this as well, Messi has scored more (in overall goals and goals per game) and has way, way, way more assists we well (mid teens for Messi versus one for Ronaldo).
Also as I posted earlier in the thread if you compare Ronaldo and Messi's international records at major tournaments they are actually very similar. Ronaldo was just able to be part of a Portugal side able to win the Euro final without him on the pitch for most of the game. Messi's Argentina side hasn't helped him get over the line in the same way.
Ronaldo has done a great job of creating this aura of being a pure match winner and big game player where Messi isn't, but it doesn't really stand up to much scrutiny.
I think this is one of those debates that people are quite entrenched in their positions. I'll be honest and say I don't even see it as especially close, I think Messi is clearly the superior player much as Ronaldo is also an all time great. Messi can do so much more than Ronaldo as a player whilst also matching his goalscoring exploits. | |
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| Ronaldo on 10:33 - Sep 9 with 2570 views | LankHenners |
Anyone who thinks Ronaldo (for all he's a terrific goalscorer) is better than Messi doesn't know the game.
He's only in the discussion because in all stories every hero needs a rival. For the last year he's not even been in the top 2.
Always good to see the laughable 'but he's only played for one club' argument wheeled out though mind. |  |
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| Ronaldo on 10:36 - Sep 9 with 2564 views | ElephantintheRoom |
Made all the more impressive by what he has achieved at club level in three different major leagues too
Wazza must wonder what might have been if he had a tenth of his dedication (and talent)
I'd add to the spurious Messi/Ronaldo debate that Ronaldo, allegedly a selfish individualist seems to inspire his nation to surprising heights... while Messi, allegedly more of a team man seems to drag Argentina down. | |
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| Ronaldo on 10:47 - Sep 9 with 2550 views | Herbivore |
| Ronaldo on 10:33 - Sep 9 by LankHenners |
Anyone who thinks Ronaldo (for all he's a terrific goalscorer) is better than Messi doesn't know the game.
He's only in the discussion because in all stories every hero needs a rival. For the last year he's not even been in the top 2.
Always good to see the laughable 'but he's only played for one club' argument wheeled out though mind. |
I do find the one club argument rather bizarre. If you look at some of the very top players over the last 20 years or so - the likes of CR7, Zidane, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Ronaldo - all of them have played for either Barca or Real and only one of them ever played in England. The notion that it's a prerequisite to have played elsewhere to be considered a great player is rather odd. When you start off at Barca, any move is going to be at best a sideways step and more likely backwards. And Barca have never much fancied selling the best player in the world either. | |
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| Ronaldo on 10:50 - Sep 9 with 2540 views | LankHenners |
| Ronaldo on 10:47 - Sep 9 by Herbivore |
I do find the one club argument rather bizarre. If you look at some of the very top players over the last 20 years or so - the likes of CR7, Zidane, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Ronaldo - all of them have played for either Barca or Real and only one of them ever played in England. The notion that it's a prerequisite to have played elsewhere to be considered a great player is rather odd. When you start off at Barca, any move is going to be at best a sideways step and more likely backwards. And Barca have never much fancied selling the best player in the world either. |
Quite, like he'd leave the perfect job for him and his family so he can prove to some melts on the internet he can 'do it in other leagues'. | |
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| Ronaldo on 10:55 - Sep 9 with 2530 views | Herbivore |
| Ronaldo on 10:50 - Sep 9 by LankHenners |
Quite, like he'd leave the perfect job for him and his family so he can prove to some melts on the internet he can 'do it in other leagues'. |
Indeed. And he's scored 26 goals and got 6 assists in 34 games against English sides. And that's playing against the likes of Liverpool, United, City and Chelsea, not Norwich and Crystal Palace. The idea he's not moved because he wouldn't cut it elsewhere is pure fantasy. | |
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| Ronaldo on 11:20 - Sep 9 with 2514 views | itfcjoe |
Crazy the amount of people in this thread who think Ronaldo is better than Messi - use your eyes folks |  |
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| Ronaldo on 11:30 - Sep 9 with 2498 views | ipswich78 |
Both immense players are we're fortunate to be at time when we can watch both of them.
Personally for me Ronaldo edges it, he's proven he can cut it at multiple clubs and I think if you were to put him in any team he would have a greater, single impact than Messi.
We're clearly talking fine points here of who's better but the above has always been my rational. Messi is an immense player but at club level has always had other top level players around him. He's never flourished as much at international level. |  |
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| Ronaldo on 11:37 - Sep 9 with 2494 views | m14_blue |
| Ronaldo on 09:38 - Sep 9 by dirtyboy |
Ronaldo is a prime example of a motivated individual with a fair amount of talent who also worked incredibly hard.
He's also the type of player who can drag a pretty ordinary team up and win alone.
Messi, one of the all time greats undoubtedly played in the greatest team we've probably ever seen, even I could have scored double figures if i'd have played up front for Barca in their prime!
There's loads to admire about both but Ronaldo edges it for hunger, pure will to win and his growth over the years and pursuing different leagues....he's proven in various teams nowhere near as good as Barcelona. |
Ronaldo's played for Man United (when they were good), Real Madrid and Juventus (who are far more dominant than Barcelona ever were). They're not exactly mediocre teams.
Take your point re Portugal though, he helped to make a pretty average team Champions of Europe there. | | | |
| Ronaldo on 11:41 - Sep 9 with 2487 views | N2_Blue |
| Ronaldo on 11:20 - Sep 9 by itfcjoe |
Crazy the amount of people in this thread who think Ronaldo is better than Messi - use your eyes folks |
I have eyes and explained my reasoning.
For talent and ability, I agree Messi is probably a more skiful player but i don't think that necessarily means the greatest. In terms of careers and what they have achieved I think Ronaldo shades it
I think Messi needs players of high ability around him to play his best football because of the type of player he is more than Ronaldo in my opinion. Ronaldo would win more games for ITFC than Messi if they were fielded in our team. | |
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| Ronaldo on 11:49 - Sep 9 with 2473 views | Herbivore |
| Ronaldo on 11:37 - Sep 9 by m14_blue |
Ronaldo's played for Man United (when they were good), Real Madrid and Juventus (who are far more dominant than Barcelona ever were). They're not exactly mediocre teams.
Take your point re Portugal though, he helped to make a pretty average team Champions of Europe there. |
Portugal have spent the last decade setting up to get the best out of Ronaldo. It's a sensible tactic. They do have some good players though, I don't buy that they are average, and what they've been good at is maximising their best player and giving him a platform to work from. But let's remember that this was a side good enough to beat France in the Euro final despite Ronaldo going off early with the score at 0-0. They're no mugs even without him in the side.
Argentina have been a bit of a basket case in many ways for the last 15 years and whilst they've had some excellent players in that time they've rarely been able to put together a balanced team. Messi has played more or less across the midfield and forward line for them over the years, rarely having a settled position. That's partly been because their other top players have been forwards and so they've moved Messi deeper or wide to accommodate them as he has the ability to play in those roles. It hasn't got the best out of him though, although he's still helped them to four major finals and they've looked a disaster when he's not played for them, and he's still their record goalscorer. And as I've mentioned previously, at major tournaments Messi and Ronaldo have fairly comparable individual records. | |
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| Ronaldo on 11:51 - Sep 9 with 2472 views | Herbivore |
| Ronaldo on 11:20 - Sep 9 by itfcjoe |
Crazy the amount of people in this thread who think Ronaldo is better than Messi - use your eyes folks |
I think it's only in England and Portugal that people consider Ronaldo to be better. | |
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| Ronaldo on 11:52 - Sep 9 with 2471 views | itfcjoe |
| Ronaldo on 11:41 - Sep 9 by N2_Blue |
I have eyes and explained my reasoning.
For talent and ability, I agree Messi is probably a more skiful player but i don't think that necessarily means the greatest. In terms of careers and what they have achieved I think Ronaldo shades it
I think Messi needs players of high ability around him to play his best football because of the type of player he is more than Ronaldo in my opinion. Ronaldo would win more games for ITFC than Messi if they were fielded in our team. |
Surely the greatest player of all time isn't decided by how they would do in a 3rd tier team?
Ronaldo has hardly spent his career playing with poor players - the 2 great club sides of their generation have been Real and Barca - Messi came through at one whereas Ronaldo was desperate to get to one but had to take the longer route. | |
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| Ronaldo on 11:58 - Sep 9 with 2467 views | Herbivore |
| Ronaldo on 11:52 - Sep 9 by itfcjoe |
Surely the greatest player of all time isn't decided by how they would do in a 3rd tier team?
Ronaldo has hardly spent his career playing with poor players - the 2 great club sides of their generation have been Real and Barca - Messi came through at one whereas Ronaldo was desperate to get to one but had to take the longer route. |
I think it all stems from the notion that Portugal are bang average. When you actually look at their team and squad they aren't exactly a bunch of no marks. Most of them play in top European leagues and many for big clubs. What they have and have always had is pretty decent balance in their squad and they have always set up to play with Ronaldo as their focal point and get the best out of him. They give him a platform to shine. He always plays his favoured position for them. That's a sharp contrast to Messi's career with Argentina, who have had some good individual players but no real balance and they've rarely set up to maximise Messi's talents in the way Portugal have for Ronaldo. | |
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| Ronaldo on 11:59 - Sep 9 with 2465 views | vapour_trail |
| Ronaldo on 11:51 - Sep 9 by Herbivore |
I think it's only in England and Portugal that people consider Ronaldo to be better. |
Think you can safely add Brazil to that list. |  |
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