He's amazing. He makes me feel things when watching him that no other player can. It's the same feeling I get when watching Bolt run or Phelps swim. You just know you are witnessing unparalleled greatness.

Clrnc wrote:

He really is the greatest ever player. Give it another 100 years and he will still be the greatest no doubt. We are so lucky to have him in this generation. Throwback to the UCL thread last year where some thought Ronaldo is better

The whole Betis stadium was giving him standing ovation

His freekicks has improved massively but I didn't realise how good it is. Direct freekicks scored since 11-12.

For me Maradona is number 1.

There is not much between Messi and Ronaldo but if the latter wins Juve the CL then he goes above Messi. In terms of pure big game ability Cristiano is second to none.

Messi's poor WC performances seriously hamper his GOAT status.

On the other hand, in terms of pure talent, I don't think I've seen a footballer come close to the Messi that plays week in, week out for Barcelona. Also, while the Messi v Ronaldo comparisions were fair enough when they both played similar roles, the two of them are now practically at the opposite end of the attacking spectrum in terms of what they need to do on the pitch

Yeah, Messi is just something else with a football at his feet. I'd rather watch his hattrick from the weekend 10 times over than Cronaldo's against Atletico, regardless of the stage and quality of the opposition. It's a credit to Ronaldo that he's even in the conversation because he doesn't half half the ability.

goon wrote:

Yeah, Messi is just something else with a football at his feet. I'd rather watch his hattrick from the weekend 10 times over than Cronaldo's against Atletico, regardless of the stage and quality of the opposition. It's a credit to Ronaldo that he's even in the conversation because he doesn't half half the ability.

But that's the reason I respect him. He really worked his ass off to get that good.

He's not really in the conversation though is he? Dumb shit gets said all the time but does it really mean they're on the same level

jones wrote:

He's not really in the conversation though is he? 

Even if you don't think he is, he clearly has been, the only reason he isn't now is cos he's no longer in La Liga.

It depends on what conversation you're talking about. If it's a glorified popularity contest like the Ballon dOr sure. Outside of it and disregarding obviously biased (ie Ronaldo's team mates) or plain dumb sources (eg rancid English pundits, tabloids etc) there's a consensus that Ronaldo isn't in the same league

They score similar amounts that's about where the comparison ends. Literally everything else there are leagues between them

Jones has it right. If anything I think the move to Juventus has shown that Ronaldo is human like the rest of them. Don't get me wrong, he still scores at a great rate, but he's neither the best goalscorer nor the best player in Serie A this season, although I'm sure he'll pick up a couple of hype awards. What he offers up in that league right now is considerably less than the likes of Ibrahimovic and Higuain have done in the past, despite them playing for much worse sides.

There are a few notable points to be made about this. For instance, the way Real Madrid and Barcelona have generated goals for their strikers over the last two decades is unmatched in the history of the game. It has a lot to do with the concentration of power and talent in modern football, where all the best players in the world have pooled up at the Spanish superclubs since ₂₀₀₄ or so. There used to be a bigger spread of top talent in Europe, but unregulated investment and practically zero restrictions from UEFA and the national FA-s saw Barca and Real grow in an unprecedented way.

In the case of Messi and Ronaldo, you had two of the best players of the last 20 years playing for what's probably been the best squads ever assembled, at clubs operating in a European top tier of their own. That brings bloated goalstats, and not just for those two. Eto'o and Suarez had multiple 40+ goal seasons too; even as scrub like Pedro had a couple 25 goal seasons in Spain.

I think Messi would probably score on a more human level too (at least relative to other top strikers) if he'd been the one moving to Juventus instead of Ronaldo. His record for his national team suggests as much (as did Ronaldo's before he moved). What separates them is that Messi would still be the best player in the league by an absolute country mile even if he weren't the best goalscorer.

Exactly. Basically it boils down to what does Ronaldo do when he’s not scoring goals, and the answer to that is : not much.

The statement was whether he was in the same conversation though, and when discussing "who is the best player in the world right now" everybody will sooner or later say Messi but Ronaldo will always appear in the conversation. He's nowhere as talented but he's there in the conversation every time, maybe because it's influence from the Balon d'Or, rubbish as that is, but he's there.

Conversation of most talented goal scorer, sure. Most talented footballer? No way. But there is some intersectionality between footballer and goalscorer- its a striker’s/attacker’s game after all, which is why Ronaldo’s stats will always put him in the picture. I do think we do him a slight disservice though as it does take a supernatural awareness of space, time and technique (in addition to tactical adaptation) to always get in position to score the sheer amount of goals he keeps scoring every season. I suspect his numbers will only begin to wind down fast now that he no longer has the physical attributes to rely on. Will be interesting to see if he can adapt his game, whereas Messi is clearly less dependent on physical ability to perform his magic.

You have to just watch the game. I don’t like the comparisons of stats and trophies. Messi plays the game on a level and with a feeling that is a level above his peers. It’s extraordinary to just sit in an arena and watch him go into a crowd and emerge from the other side effortlessly, darting between obstacles. He has bullet vision and pairs with extraordinary technique.

Ronaldo on the other hand is marvelous in a different way. He isn’t the pure talent that Messi is, but brings an unsurpassable work ethic, drive to keep extending his arsenal, and incredible instinct for goal.

I do think that the two men have benefitted from two other things. One, as mentioned earlier - having the foundation of two of the wealthiest clubs in history to stage their performances. Second, having each other to drive these performances.

Santi having a really good game.

What a comeback.

Chuckweezy having a blinder tonight.

Barca getting smacked tonight haha. Love it.

What aa pass by Santi by the way for that goal.