The good ones of old would be good ones now, as their skills would also be enhanced by current training methods, diets etc. You cant say, "ah but he used have a diet of red meat and 20 Woodbine, he would be knackered after 45 minutes these days", and ignore the fact that if they were around now they would have all the modern technology enhancing their skills.
Ronaldo and Messi are the best two players to ever play the game. Don't think it is possible to say one is better than the other although, of course, you might prefer one over the other for a variety of reasons.
Bold statement!
But bang on the money. Try and name one better than either.
Ronaldo and Messi are the best two players to ever play the game. Don't think it is possible to say one is better than the other although, of course, you might prefer one over the other for a variety of reasons.
Bold statement!
But bang on the money. Try and name one better than either.
In my lifetime - Best, Pele, Maradona, Ronaldo - then we're into CR and Messi.
Subjective opinions is what football is all about !!
I would add that at this moment in time Ronaldo edges it for me.
I could accept a cheating selfish prick score 23 in 12!!! Messi's no saint that's for sure!
Messi is undoubtedly more of a team player, I do get the impression he would be more than happy to miss 6 open goals if Barca won the game, whereas Ronaldo would be stropping left, right and centre.
But in terms of actual quality how important they are to their sides, it's too close to call. Ronaldo might get the edge just because he has done it in England too. Harsh on Messi but he has decided not to prove himself away from Barca.
Ronaldo has won a major international tournament too, in probably a weaker Portugal team than Messi has had the luxury of playing in with Argentina.
Both players are astonishing - looking at the goal stats, Ronaldo has 568 in 755 club games, Messi 554 in 660. Those are stats which make other quality players look ordinary, especially as neither are just "goalscorers"
However to be great, you have to achieve for your country, and Messi's lack of success with Argentina is the one "blot" on his place in footballing history. No World Cups and his goal scoring ratio is relatively poor as well, 61 in 123 games.
Fuck me. 61/ 123 is absolutely unbelievable at international level.
I could accept a cheating selfish prick score 23 in 12!!! Messi's no saint that's for sure!
Messi is undoubtedly more of a team player, I do get the impression he would be more than happy to miss 6 open goals if Barca won the game, whereas Ronaldo would be stropping left, right and centre.
But in terms of actual quality how important they are to their sides, it's too close to call. Ronaldo might get the edge just because he has done it in England too. Harsh on Messi but he has decided not to prove himself away from Barca.
Ronaldo has won a major international tournament too, in probably a weaker Portugal team than Messi has had the luxury of playing in with Argentina.
Both players are astonishing - looking at the goal stats, Ronaldo has 568 in 755 club games, Messi 554 in 660. Those are stats which make other quality players look ordinary, especially as neither are just "goalscorers"
However to be great, you have to achieve for your country, and Messi's lack of success with Argentina is the one "blot" on his place in footballing history. No World Cups and his goal scoring ratio is relatively poor as well, 61 in 123 games.
Fuck me. 61/ 123 is absolutely unbelievable at international level.
But relatively poor in comparison to Messi's club scoring ratio. Looking at the stats many players (excluding those who play in weak qualifying groups) have better figures. Just from South America
I could accept a cheating selfish prick score 23 in 12!!! Messi's no saint that's for sure!
Messi is undoubtedly more of a team player, I do get the impression he would be more than happy to miss 6 open goals if Barca won the game, whereas Ronaldo would be stropping left, right and centre.
But in terms of actual quality how important they are to their sides, it's too close to call. Ronaldo might get the edge just because he has done it in England too. Harsh on Messi but he has decided not to prove himself away from Barca.
Ronaldo has won a major international tournament too, in probably a weaker Portugal team than Messi has had the luxury of playing in with Argentina.
Both players are astonishing - looking at the goal stats, Ronaldo has 568 in 755 club games, Messi 554 in 660. Those are stats which make other quality players look ordinary, especially as neither are just "goalscorers"
However to be great, you have to achieve for your country, and Messi's lack of success with Argentina is the one "blot" on his place in footballing history. No World Cups and his goal scoring ratio is relatively poor as well, 61 in 123 games.
Fuck me. 61/ 123 is absolutely unbelievable at international level.
But relatively poor in comparison to Messi's club scoring ratio. Looking at the stats many players (excluding those who play in weak qualifying groups) have better figures. Just from South America
They are pretty much all main strikers though. Messi isn't. He plays out wide, or as an attacking midfield, or off the striker, but never as their main central striker. What's his international scoring record like compared to Maradona?
I could accept a cheating selfish prick score 23 in 12!!! Messi's no saint that's for sure!
Messi is undoubtedly more of a team player, I do get the impression he would be more than happy to miss 6 open goals if Barca won the game, whereas Ronaldo would be stropping left, right and centre.
But in terms of actual quality how important they are to their sides, it's too close to call. Ronaldo might get the edge just because he has done it in England too. Harsh on Messi but he has decided not to prove himself away from Barca.
Ronaldo has won a major international tournament too, in probably a weaker Portugal team than Messi has had the luxury of playing in with Argentina.
Both players are astonishing - looking at the goal stats, Ronaldo has 568 in 755 club games, Messi 554 in 660. Those are stats which make other quality players look ordinary, especially as neither are just "goalscorers"
However to be great, you have to achieve for your country, and Messi's lack of success with Argentina is the one "blot" on his place in footballing history. No World Cups and his goal scoring ratio is relatively poor as well, 61 in 123 games.
Fuck me. 61/ 123 is absolutely unbelievable at international level.
But relatively poor in comparison to Messi's club scoring ratio. Looking at the stats many players (excluding those who play in weak qualifying groups) have better figures. Just from South America
They are pretty much all main strikers though. Messi isn't. He plays out wide, or as an attacking midfield, or off the striker, but never as their main central striker. What's his international scoring record like compared to Maradona?
Relatively poor (34 in 91) but then his club stats are far worse than Messi's
I could accept a cheating selfish prick score 23 in 12!!! Messi's no saint that's for sure!
Messi is undoubtedly more of a team player, I do get the impression he would be more than happy to miss 6 open goals if Barca won the game, whereas Ronaldo would be stropping left, right and centre.
But in terms of actual quality how important they are to their sides, it's too close to call. Ronaldo might get the edge just because he has done it in England too. Harsh on Messi but he has decided not to prove himself away from Barca.
Ronaldo has won a major international tournament too, in probably a weaker Portugal team than Messi has had the luxury of playing in with Argentina.
Both players are astonishing - looking at the goal stats, Ronaldo has 568 in 755 club games, Messi 554 in 660. Those are stats which make other quality players look ordinary, especially as neither are just "goalscorers"
However to be great, you have to achieve for your country, and Messi's lack of success with Argentina is the one "blot" on his place in footballing history. No World Cups and his goal scoring ratio is relatively poor as well, 61 in 123 games.
Fuck me. 61/ 123 is absolutely unbelievable at international level.
But relatively poor in comparison to Messi's club scoring ratio. Looking at the stats many players (excluding those who play in weak qualifying groups) have better figures. Just from South America
It's really hard to compare players with such different roles, especially defenders, as they don't have the glory and obvious stats goalscorers do, and also don't have the spectacular saves that keepers make. Bobby Moore for example has just one famous tackle (Pele in 1970)
To say Messi or Ronaldo are the best ever,means you could not have seen the great George best,he played on mudheaps,without the physical protection that players get today.I shudder to think how good he would have been today,he could have played in any era,could todays superstars play under the conditions that he did.
What.....pissed? He would not have had the discipline to make it in today’s fitness first game.
Best is the greatest player I have ever seen. In today’s game, with better pitches, boots, ball, sports science and protection from referees he would have shone brightly
Don’t get how people say Ronaldo is more complete, Messi is as good as a CDM a CM a CAM and a striker when he plays, never stops moving a passing the ball. Ronaldo on the other hand made his living standing there screaming for the ball and throwing a strop when he didn’t get it. Don’t get me wrong, I have both of them in my to pick 5, but being able to header a ball doesn’t make you complete.
To say Messi or Ronaldo are the best ever,means you could not have seen the great George best,he played on mudheaps,without the physical protection that players get today.I shudder to think how good he would have been today,he could have played in any era,could todays superstars play under the conditions that he did.
What.....pissed? He would not have had the discipline to make it in today’s fitness first game.
Best is the greatest player I have ever seen. In today’s game, with better pitches, boots, ball, sports science and protection from referees he would have shone brightly
Pretty much 1 in 3 for both club and country.
Great player no doubt and probably the best these isles have ever produced but holding him up near either Messi or C. Ronaldo is ludicrous.
Both players are astonishing - looking at the goal stats, Ronaldo has 568 in 755 club games, Messi 554 in 660. Those are stats which make other quality players look ordinary, especially as neither are just "goalscorers"
However to be great, you have to achieve for your country, and Messi's lack of success with Argentina is the one "blot" on his place in footballing history. No World Cups and his goal scoring ratio is relatively poor as well, 61 in 123 games.
I never get this argument. Ronaldo played about 5 minutes in the Euros final. Does this make Theo Zagorakis one if the greatest because he was the best player in the side that won Euro 2004?
259 in 491 says he wasn't the best, the quality of football has improved so much since players like Best, Maradonna and Pele were at their best!
Many won't agree I am sure, but the game has changed.
Are you saying that the ‘best’ is decided by goals per game ratio only?
Yes the game has certainly changed, but applying that criteria it could be argued that CR and Messi wouldn’t have been any good if they were born 30 or 40 years earlier. Or are you saying the game is better now and Best, Pele et al would have been poor if they had been born 30-40 years later?
Comments
You cant say, "ah but he used have a diet of red meat and 20 Woodbine, he would be knackered after 45 minutes these days", and ignore the fact that if they were around now they would have all the modern technology enhancing their skills.
Subjective opinions is what football is all about !!
I would add that at this moment in time Ronaldo edges it for me.
Pele 77/91
Brazilian Ronaldo 62/98
Romario 55/70
Batistuta 54/70
Neymar 53/83
Suarez 50/97
I’m just glad Simon Church isn’t reading this.
Club record for Bayern 398 in 453
Not too shabby!
1. C. Ronaldo
2. Messi
3. Zidane
The 90s/00s had some really great players... Henry, Ronaldo, Batistuta spring to mind, but none dominated for as long as those two are now.
This is a great read.
It's really hard to compare players with such different roles, especially defenders, as they don't have the glory and obvious stats goalscorers do, and also don't have the spectacular saves that keepers make. Bobby Moore for example has just one famous tackle (Pele in 1970)
Great player no doubt and probably the best these isles have ever produced but holding him up near either Messi or C. Ronaldo is ludicrous.
One of my earliest football memories was him destroying England at Euro 88 and then scoring that goal in the final.
Both players are astonishing - looking at the goal stats, Ronaldo has 568 in 755 club games, Messi 554 in 660. Those are stats which make other quality players look ordinary, especially as neither are just "goalscorers"
However to be great, you have to achieve for your country, and Messi's lack of success with Argentina is the one "blot" on his place in footballing history. No World Cups and his goal scoring ratio is relatively poor as well, 61 in 123 games.
I never get this argument. Ronaldo played about 5 minutes in the Euros final. Does this make Theo Zagorakis one if the greatest because he was the best player in the side that won Euro 2004?
It's close but Messi edges it.
In my lifetime Dennis Bergkamp was the best player I have ever seen live.
Many won't agree I am sure, but the game has changed.
Yes the game has certainly changed, but applying that criteria it could be argued that CR and Messi wouldn’t have been any good if they were born 30 or 40 years earlier. Or are you saying the game is better now and Best, Pele et al would have been poor if they had been born 30-40 years later?