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Forge Press | Friday 6 November 2015
SPORT
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SportsThoughts : Clash of the Titans It’s that age-old question (well, a few years old anyway) - who is better, Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi? Photos: Tumblr
Nikhil Verkaria The Messi v Ronaldo debate is one that has raged on for the last few years, as two players have dominated world football. They’ve shared the last seven Ballon d’Or trophies between them, but who is ‘better’? The word better in itself leads to confusion, but I believe Lionel Messi is not only greater than Cristiano Ronaldo, but the greatest player to have ever lived. For one, he’s certainly not built for football. He looks more like a geeky kid into his computers than a footballer, especially in his younger days with his shoulder length hair. His journey into football has been remarkable. Signed into Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy on a piece of tissue in a restaurant after they offered to pay for his growth hormone treatment, the rest is pretty much history. Since making his debut in October 2005, he has broken every record in the book. He has the most Ballon d’Ors titles in football history, with four. He is the bookies favourite to pick up a fifth in January 2016. Since 2007, he has been a Ballon d’Or finalist every year, meaning he’s had eight appearances as a finalist, more than anyone else. He holds the Guinness World Record for the most goals in a calendar year with 91 in 2012 and went on the longest goalscoring run in a league season in 2012-13, scoring 33 goals in 21 consecutive games. This run was only ended by injury. He is the only player in the history of football
to score consecutively against all the teams in a competitive league, as well as being the only player to both score and assist in all six major competitions in a calendar year. In European competitions, his record is just as extraordinary. He has been top scorer in five UEFA champions league seasons, four of them being consecutive and has also scored in the most cities and countries in the Champions League. He is the top scorer and assist-maker in the history of La Liga, as well as being the top scorer in El Clasico history. He has scored at least 40 goals a season for the last six seasons, and holds the goalscoring record for every competition in the history of FC Barcelona (except the Copa Del Rey, when he is usually rested). Messi has been an integral part of a club which has become famous for a brand of football that has seen them dominate European football and inspire fans all over the world. Furthermore, it is in the moments that Barcelona needed inspiration themselves that he has popped up. Lionel Messi is something else. He isn’t perfectly built, he’s not the strongest or the biggest. But he has broken every record in the book and helped to perform in a team which has become arguably the greatest club side of all time. He has made us all hold our breath and in the biggest moments of all, he has delivered. He can do things that no other player can, and probably ever will be able to do. That’s why he’s the greatest.
MESSI In Numbers Appearances
467
597
Goals
Club titles
Ballon D’Or Awards
RONALDO In Numbers
759
Goals
Appearances
504
At last count, I have lost around seven friends trying to argue that Cristiano Ronaldo is better than Lionel Messi. The debate really is that fierce. They have reached the top through different ways. Ronaldo has managed it through incredible hard work and dedication while Messi has managed it by sheer talent. For most of their careers, Ronaldo and Messi have averaged close to a goal a game in a season. Since the Portugese moved to La Liga, he has scored 326 compared to Messi’s 338. In the Champions League, Ronaldo is five goals ahead of Messi in the goalscoring charts. There is not much to separate them on the basis of goals scored. Many have argued that Ronaldo doesn’t do much other than finishing opportunities created by his team-mates. However, there is evidence that suggests he does more. In the last three seasons, Cristiano Ronaldo has had 51 assists compared to Messi’s 57. That’s a lot of assists for someone who just scores tap-ins and penalties. Ronaldo has performed incredibly well in two really competitive leagues. He has won a league title, domestic cup, Champions League and European Golden Boot with two completely different teams. He has the strength, speed and skill-set to perform brilliantly at any level. The same cannot be said about Messi. I believe that he may not be able to do what he does for Barcelona week in week out in the Championship. Cristiano Ronaldo could play for Accrington Stanley and still manage
Siddharth Solanki to score a hat-trick every other week. In my opinion, Cristiano Ronaldo is the perfect footballer. There is nothing that he cannot do on a pitch. Ronaldo can be a target man on the pitch but he is definitely a target off the pitch for the media and many football fans. It is his arrogant and selfish persona that sways people’s opinions on who the better player is. It might be true to some extent but it should in no way affect public perception of his footballing ability. Sepp Blatter’s comments about how Messi was a ‘good boy’ and Ronaldo a ‘commander’ who spends more on his hairdo exemplifies the problem. There have been other examples in the past where a footballer’s off-the-pitch actions have resulted in people undervaluing the player’s ability to perform on the pitch, David Beckham being one. His behaviour on and off the pitch has led to people overlooking how good he actually is and how hard he has worked to get there. Many prefer Ronaldo’s flair and commanding physicality. We are lucky to be alive in the era of Ronaldo and Messi. Most of us have merely heard how good Pelé was and only seen highlights of what Maradona could do. Right now, we are witnessing players as good as them, or maybe even better. We should just enjoy two of the greatest players of all time in their prime putting in extraordinary performances every single week on the pitch. (But Ronaldo’s better of course.)
Club titles
Ballon D’Or Awards
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The Forge Press Sport editors look at who has been making headlines in sport, for better or worse... Photos: Tumblr Sonny Bill Williams American Pharoah Jose Mourinho
STAR PERFORMER
Great Britain Gymnastics team Max Whitlock (pictured right) became the first British male gymnast to win gold at the World Championships when he claimed gold in the pommel horse. Louis Smith claimed silver in the same event. The men’s team also claimed silver, while the women’s team won their first ever world team final medal by claiming bronze. The result means both the British men and women’s teams have qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics where they will hope to build on the four medals they secured at London 2012.
Two years after heartbreak in the Rugby League World Cup final, Sonny Bill Williams struck gold by switching codes and featuring as New Zealand defeated Australia 34-17 to retain the Union equivalent. Following the game he grabbed even more headlines, gifting his winner’s medal to 14 year-old Charlie Line in a touching show of magnanimity.
American Pharoah retired last weekend, but only after setting a record that may take a long time to match, if ever. The thoroughbred followed up winning American horse racing’s fabled Triple Crown with victory at the Breeders’ Cup Classic, the most lucrative meet in the calendar.
Jose Mourinho has become a stark example of a manager hoist on his own petard. The belligerent Chelsea boss has seen his side stumble through the Premier League, with the defending champions in 15th after 11 games. The pressure will continue to grow unless Mourinho turns it around.