Messi vs. Ronaldo: who's better?

Messi vs. Ronaldo: who's better?

Lionel Messi's strengths as a footballer are numerous and multifaceted. His vision and passing are outstanding, enabling him to create precise and creative plays that often unlock defenses.His versatility allows him to excel in various attacking roles, making him a multi-dimensional threat on the pitch.

While I acknowledge that Messi's World Cup win elevates his team honors above Ronaldo's, I must emphasize that Ronaldo has often been more crucial to his team. Portugal's team is generally weaker than Argentina's, yet Ronaldo consistently leads them to success. For instance, in the 2018 World Cup group stage, Portugal faced a stronger Spain, and Ronaldo's hat-trick secured a 3-3 draw. In contrast, Argentina, led by Messi, struggled and was held to a draw by Iceland, with Messi missing a crucial penalty.

One example in the 2015 Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao. In this match, Messi scored a goal that showcased nearly all of his key strengths in a single play. This goal highlighted his extraordinary dribbling ability, speed, agility, and finishing skills, cementing it as one of the most memorable goals of his career and a perfect example of why he is considered one of the greatest footballers of all time. while both players have adapted to various roles, messi has shown greater versatility by excelling in different attacking positions and adjusting his style of play needed

Firstly, while Ronaldo was younger, he was a multi-dimensional player, not just a goal-scorer, as shown in his Real Madrid records. While I agree that Messi's goal is beautiful, your perspective is limited and not comprehensive. An athlete's value isn't determined by a single goal; their overall performance and achievements matter. As I've mentioned, Ronaldo has been more decisive in key competitions, especially in the Champions League, where he earned the title "King of the Champions League." Additionally, Ronaldo is considered one of the greatest goal-scorers in football history, with over 850 goals, compared to Messi's 820.

While Ronaldo's achievements are impressive, Messi's contributions extend beyond scoring. His exceptional dribbling, vision, and playmaking abilities make him a true multi-dimensional player. Messi has also been decisive in key competitions, leading Argentina to a Copa America victory and a World Cup win. His numerous Ballon d'Or wins and consistent high-level performances highlight his influence on the game. Both players are among the greatest, but Messi's overall versatility and impact make him equally deserving of this title.

In America, Argentina is more dominant than Portugal in Europe, but Argentina's 28-year wait for a Copa América title was largely due to Messi's performances. In the 2016 final, Argentina missed out on the championship because Messi missed the first penalty. Additionally, it's puzzling that Copa América was held four times between 2015 and 2021, culminating in Messi's 2021 victory, raising questions about the tournament's fairness. Furthermore, the European Championship is widely recognized as more competitive than Copa América.

In the World Cup, Messi and Argentina lost to Saudi Arabia in the first round, and later received five penalties, which is rare in World Cup history. Can Argentina, who struggled against Saudi Arabia, really defeat the Netherlands and France without those penalties? If we judge the best player solely by World Cup wins, then Pelé would be the greatest, not Messi or Ronaldo. Thus, using World Cup titles to determine the best player is flawed, especially given Portugal's overall strength compared to Argentina's.

It's widely acknowledged that the World Cup's competition is much lower than the UEFA Champions League. Ronaldo has won five Champions League titles with different clubs, showcasing his consistency across various teams. In contrast, Messi's performance at PSG, even with stars like Neymar and Mbappé, hasn't matched his Barcelona days. Ronaldo has consistently excelled at Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and even in Saudi Arabia, proving his superiority in ability and performance. Without Di María, Messi might not have won the Copa América, which almost feels like it's held annually until he does.

Messi's World Cup win and Copa América victory with Argentina highlight his ability to perform at the highest level in international competitions, something Ronaldo has yet to achieve. The claim that the Copa América is held annually until Messi wins it is inaccurate; it's a prestigious tournament with a long history and considerable competition.Furthermore, Messi’s impact on the field goes beyond scoring. His vision, playmaking, and ability to create opportunities for teammates make him a complete player.

Both players exhibit personality traits that contribute to their greatness, but Ronaldo's confidence can be a double-edged sword, providing leadership but occasionally appearing as arrogance. In contrast, Messi's humility fosters team spirit and respect from both teammates and opponents. Messi is often praised for his humility and selflessness. Despite his immense talent, he consistently focuses on the team's success rather than personal accolades. This trait fosters a positive team environment and encourages collaboration.

Messi's influence on the game is not limited to international tournaments. His exceptional performance at club level, where he won numerous Champions League titles, Ballon d'Or awards, and broke countless records, highlights his consistent excellence. Moreover, while penalties are part of the game, it was Argentina's overall performance, strategy, and Messi's crucial role that led to their victories. The criteria for judging players now include their all-around impact, versatility, and longevity. Messi's contributions in these areas, combined with his international and club successes, cement his status as one of the greatest players in football history.

It's true that the Copa América has a long history, but the fact remains that it was held four times between 2016 and 2021, with the 2021 tournament postponed due to the pandemic. To be precise, it was held four times in the five years from 2016 to 2020, and Messi won the title in 2021. These are established facts. The reason Ronaldo hasn't won the Copa América isn't due to his ability but his nationality, as he can't participate in the tournament.

However, Ronaldo did win the European Championship, and no one can deny that the European Championship is more challenging than the Copa América. Furthermore, the European Championship hasn't been held four times in five years like the Copa América.

Messi's World Cup win is indeed a fact, but as I mentioned earlier, Argentina was awarded five penalties in seven matches, which is extremely rare in World Cup history. The fairness of this is still debated by many.

As I mentioned before, evaluating an athlete requires a comprehensive assessment. If we only focus on vision, playmaking, and the ability to create opportunities, then neither Messi nor Ronaldo might surpass Thomas Müller. Ronaldo's decisiveness in crucial matches is something Messi can't match. For top athletes, vision and the ability to create opportunities are not lacking, but Ronaldo's organizational skills aren't as prominent because that's not his role. He has excelled as a forward and has done the best in that position.

Certainly, Messi's achievement of winning the World Cup is unparalleled, but we shouldn't use this to undermine Ronaldo's status and accomplishments. The difficulty of the European Championship is no less than that of the World Cup. Ronaldo may be inferior to Messi in dribbling, but his technical versatility is unmatched.

Ronaldo during the CR9 period was unmatched in heading ability, arguably the best in football. His unique knuckleball free-kicks made him a master of set-pieces, combining power and aesthetics. In the Champions League, the competition with the highest technical level in football, he stands as an unrivaled king. Being the top scorer and assist provider in the history of the Champions League gives him the right to call himself the King of the Champions League.

Of course, his prowess on the football field is just one aspect. What is even more commendable is his strong mental attributes. The most impressive examples are his hat-trick against Spain in the 2018 World Cup and his hat-tricks against Wolfsburg and Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. Whenever the team is in trouble, he always brings about miraculous comebacks, showing the responsibility of a captain.