It has been 7 long years since there was a footballer winning the Ballon d’Or, other than Ronaldo or Messi. Kaka who lifted the Golden Ball in 2007 was the last of a breed of footballers ‘lucky’ to be blessed with the highest honor, before a ‘Ronaldo-Messi’ storm blew the football fraternity away.
Every year for 7 years now, the Ballon d’Or ceremony is dominated by either Ronaldo or Messi. The domination of both the players on the game is so complete that it doesn’t matter who the third compatriot is, for the Ballon d’Or race. The ‘Ronaldo-Messi’ rivalry has belittled footballers.
Although there will always be an unsettling debate on who the better player is, here are 5 reasons why they are a class of their own and cannot be compared.
1. Style of Play
The two best players in the world have contrasting styles of play. Ronaldo plays a winger whose task is to decimate the opponent’s defence with lightning runs and thunderous strikes. He is a rampant beast with a mind, set for scoring goals, all the time.
Messi has a game-plan and plays with intelligence. Being a centre forward he has the responsibility for spreading the team around him. He passes, dribbles, assists and shoots. Messi’s game is completely different from Ronaldo’s.
No comparisions here!!
2. Team reliance
Though Ronaldo is a key entity in the Real Madrid squad, it cannot be said that they ‘rely’ on him to win games. There are a lot of match winners for Real in Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale, James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos. The team is a star-studded pack.
Messi’s Barcelona, as Barcelona was once known, has now changed a lot. The team which relied on only Messi earlier has evolved now. It has classy strikers like Neymar Jr and Luis Suarez who clearly can lead Barcelona in the absence of Messi. Today’s Barca does not always need Messi’s magic to win.
Individually, Ronaldo and Messi are a class apart but a team is not built around just one of them. Both are key strikers for their sides but their position of play makes the comparision absolutely silly.
3. Free kicks
Ronaldo has evolved into a skilled kicker of dead balls in the past few years. It has been pure hard work and dedication that has elevated him as one of the best free kick takers in the history of the game. The power and accuracy of his shots make even the most experienced goalkeepers commit mistakes.
Messi on the opposite, has a Midas touch, a trait inborn. He can turn the ball like no other and into the net with absolute ease. Never can anyone complain a goalkeeper, for not being able to stop a Messi free kick, because it is simply ‘unstoppable’.
Ronaldo or Messi?……..It is Ronaldo…no Messi…Ronaldo, Messi, Ronaldo, Mess……let’s just leave this to rest. It is a tie!
4. Attitude
Contrasting attitudes all the way. Ronaldo is known for his tantrums on field. If he gets edged, pulled or pushed, he doesn’t take it easy. He is seen by many as an arrogant footballer.
Meanwhile, Messi is the epitome of endurance. He rarely complains and takes defenders head-on, keeping a cool head.
Messi’s silence may be golden but Ronaldo’s short anger bursts and often emotional breakdowns are the reason for him to keep pushing and keep achieving more.
5. Machine Power vs Natural Grace
Ronaldo is pure raw power. His ability to outrun opponents, the power he generates into every shot, his aerial prowess and superior fitness make opponents fear the sight of him approaching the goal.
Messi meanwhile, is natural talent. The Argentine boy wonder has dribbling skills like no other. He can glide past two or three opponents with ease and his ball controlling ability is unmatched. Also the angle of shots are just mesmerizing to watch.
This is certainly one debate which gives no clear answers for now. But here is the bottomline….‘ Ronaldo is a cyborg built for kill, while Messi is an awe-inspiring grace sent to wow.’