Cristiano Ronaldo wins fifth Ballon d’Or to equal Lionel Messi’s record [Update Post#53]

[MenInG]

Paris - Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar headline an impressive 30-man shortlist unveiled on Monday for the 2017 Ballon d'Or world footballer of the year award.

Portugal superstar Ronaldo is attempting to match Lionel Messi's record by winning the prize for a fifth time after his starring role in Real Madrid's first La Liga and Champions League double in 59 years.

Ronaldo has claimed the prestigious honour in three of the past four years, with Argentina standout Messi last collecting the trophy in 2015 following Barcelona's treble-winning campaign.

The pair have combined to win the award -- organised by France Football magazine -- every year since former Brazil and AC Milan star Kaka won it in 2007.

Ronaldo remains the strong favourite despite still searching for his first league goal in the 2017/18 season after serving a five-match domestic ban following his dismissal in the Spanish Super Cup.

Messi has profited from his rival's absence to spearhead Barcelona's stunning start to the campaign, scoring 11 goals in the first seven matches while adding two more in Europe.

But both players remain in danger of missing the 2018 World Cup.

European champions Portugal could be forced to negotiate next month's play-offs unless they defeat Group B leaders Switzerland in their final qualifier on Tuesday.

Two-time World Cup winners Argentina are outside the top five in South American qualifying ahead of a tricky trip to Ecuador in their last match, although victory would at the least put them into a two-legged play-off against New Zealand.

Brazilian forward Neymar moved to Paris Saint-Germain in August for a world-record €222 million to step out of Messi's shadow at Barcelona.

The 25-year-old has enjoyed a seamless transition to French football with a return of eight goals in as many games as PSG look to upset European football's established order.

Real account for seven of the nominees with Ronaldo joined by Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Isco and Karim Benzema.

PSG are the second best represented club with three players -- Neymar, Edinson Cavani and Kylian Mbappe, who is set to seal a €180-million move next summer after arriving on a season-long loan from Monaco.

Harry Kane, one of 12 players nominated for the first time, is the lone Englishman on the shortlist, but there are seven Premier League nominees in total as Chelsea duo N'Golo Kante and Eden Hazard were recognised for their contribution to last season's title-winning campaign.

Liverpool strikers Sadio Mane and Philippe Coutinho are also included along with Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea and Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne.

Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud, Venezuela Women's forward Deyna Castellanos and goalkeeper Oscarine Masuluke of South African outfit Baroka are the three finalists for the Puskas Award -- a FIFA accolade for the "most beautiful goal" of the season.

Nominees

Neymar (Paris SG/BRA), Luka Modric (Real Madrid/CRO), Paulo Dybala (Juventus/ARG), Marcelo (Real Madrid/BRA), N'Golo Kante (Chelsea/FRA), Luis Suarez (Barcelona/URU), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid/ESP), Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid/SLO), Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool/BRA), Dries Mertens (Napoli/BEL), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City/BEL), Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich/POL), David De Gea (Manchester United/ESP), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur/ENG), Edin Dzeko (Roma/BIH), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid/FRA), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid/GER), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus/ITA), Sadio Mane (Liverpool/SEN), Radamel Falcao (Monaco/COL), Lionel Messi (Barcelona/ARG), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund/GAB), Edinson Cavani (Paris SG/URU), Mats Hummels (Bayern Munich/GER), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid/FRA), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid/POR), Eden Hazard (Chelsea/BEL), Leonardo Bonucci (AC Milan/ITA), Isco (Real Madrid/ESP), Kylian Mbappe (Paris SG/FRA)

http://www.sport24.co.za/Soccer/International/ronaldo-messi-lead-ballon-dor-nominees-20171009

 

[KingKhanWC]

I was listening to the radio where Darren Gough and his mate were suggesting Harry Kane should win it. Yes he's been very good for the last 12 months but can't see anyone taking this off Ronaldo. Winning both Champions League and Euro 2016 was a great achievment.

 

[finalfantasy7]

Hopefully Buffon wins it.

However Ronaldo will win - kane ain't going to win it - no way he deserves it more than the two above I mentioned

 

[Heisenberg]

I was listening to the radio where Darren Gough and his mate were suggesting Harry Kane should win it. Yes he's been very good for the last 12 months but can't see anyone taking this off Ronaldo. Winning both Champions League and Euro 2016 was a great achievment.

Euro 2016 was in 2016. That was relevant for 2016. Regardless, this is an individual award and should be won by the player with the highest level of individual performance and that should be Messi.

 

[King-Misbah]

Ronaldo will win it again; what is even the point of the short listing process lol

 

[Protea Fan]

Euro 2016 was in 2016. That was relevant for 2016. Regardless, this is an individual award and should be won by the player with the highest level of individual performance and that should be Messi.

Why suddenly only individual performance matters

After ronaldo-messi year era the award is given based on individual brilliance+trophies won

Even its all about individual performances ronaldo tear out messi in that too,he was more clinical in both laliga and CL last season as compared to messi when it comes to big matches

Ronaldo always delivered when it matters thats why real was so successful last year

 

[Protea Fan]

Hopefully Buffon wins it.

However Ronaldo will win - kane ain't going to win it - no way he deserves it more than the two above I mentioned

Don't know why buffon is getting these hypes...agree that he is damn good for his age

But this award is not given for sympathy i guess....every now and then buffon was surrounded by some quality defenders,last season too juventus defence was sumptuous but still ronaldo and co humiliated buffon by netting 4 in CL final

Personally i think someone like navas had a better season than buffon individually

 

[Heisenberg]

Why suddenly only individual performance matters

After ronaldo-messi year era the award is given based on individual brilliance+trophies won

Even its all about individual performances ronaldo tear out messi in that too,he was more clinical in both laliga and CL last season as compared to messi when it comes to big matches

Ronaldo always delivered when it matters thats why real was so successful last year

I don't think you understand football by looking at goals stats because that's not the only criteria we judge individual performances from.

That said he wasn't even more clinical in la liga because Messi outscored him and won the pichici. What big matches? The el clasico where Messi won his struggling team the game at santiago bernabeu single handedly against the mean machine that is Real Madrid? Won the game against Atletico in the last minute. Against Sevilla in the last minute with that free kick.

Messi was leading the scoring charts in the champions league as well before his team was knocked out and Ronaldo got handed a few goals on a plate against Bayern and then was insanely clinical in the final and semis. And unfortunately for Ronaldo, goals is the only thing that he can compare with Messi. So no there is actually no comparison in terms of individual performances.

 

[Mamoon]

I don't think you understand football by looking at goals stats because that's not the only criteria we judge individual performances from.

That said he wasn't even more clinical in la liga because Messi outscored him and won the pichici. What big matches? The el clasico where Messi won his struggling team the game at santiago bernabeu single handedly against the mean machine that is Real Madrid? Won the game against Atletico in the last minute. Against Sevilla in the last minute with that free kick.

Messi was leading the scoring charts in the champions league as well before his team was knocked out and Ronaldo got handed a few goals on a plate against Bayern and then was insanely clinical in the final and semis. And unfortunately for Ronaldo, goals is the only thing that he can compare with Messi. So no there is actually no comparison in terms of individual performances.

You are wasting your time, this forum is full of Ronaldo fan-boys. Any serious observer will agree with you that Messi is better than Ronaldo, and that has always been the case.

There is a good reason why most football managers as well as a lot credible experts rate his as the GOAT.

 

[Protea Fan]

I don't think you understand football by looking at goals stats because that's not the only criteria we judge individual performances from.

That said he wasn't even more clinical in la liga because Messi outscored him and won the pichici. What big matches? The el clasico where Messi won his struggling team the game at santiago bernabeu single handedly against the mean machine that is Real Madrid? Won the game against Atletico in the last minute. Against Sevilla in the last minute with that free kick.

Messi was leading the scoring charts in the champions league as well before his team was knocked out and Ronaldo got handed a few goals on a plate against Bayern and then was insanely clinical in the final and semis. And unfortunately for Ronaldo, goals is the only thing that he can compare with Messi. So no there is actually no comparison in terms of individual performances.

May be my football knowledge is not that vast or keen as you but i can show something to prove you are terribly wrong here.And for your information goals win you matches end of the day and ronaldo's current role in madrd lineup is just to score the goals and he's doing it in a near perfect way.If you are watching madrid's games recently in a midfield which consist of modirc,kroos and isco,ronaldo didn't need to do the fancy playmaking role anymore,back then in his united days the team demands ronaldo to do so and he brilliantly did that job

The season 2014–15, Ronaldo scored a whopping 48 goals in the league, that includes a goal against barcelona in both legs in the league campaign whereas Messi had none. He scored in both legs against Juventus in the semis of Champions league, even though it wasn’t enough to make real madrid progress. However, he was the joint top scorer in champions league along with neymar and messi despite playing one less game. He finished the season with the most goals in that season and claimed the golden boot. But, lost to Messi in Balon Dor race. Why? He had no trophy to show for.. that’s how the dynamics of Ballon Dor

And about last season why ronaldo didn't netted as much as mess is because of several reasons firstly injury played a huge part.He started the season on the sidelines due to his 2-month knee injury. Ronaldo is a 32 years old who has been suffering knee issues since 2014, so his recovery is bound to take longer than usual. It was following this injury when Ronaldo was said to have “the worst period of his career”.

Secondly In La Liga, Ronaldo missed 9 games, 5 of which came against bottom 5 teams, where he could definitely improve his goal contribution average. He was also clearly instructed to not put much effort into games against weaker teams in order to save his energy to the decisive end of the season.

In La Liga, Ronaldo proved particularly decisive in the high-pressure final month, scoring 6 against Valencia, Celta, Sevilla and Malaga. Overall, Ronaldo’s goals and assists won Real an 18 points in that month,heck the way he literally humiliated the mighty atletico defence by scoring a hatrick away from home is prodigious.

In the Champions league KO stages, apart from a penalty goal and 2 or 3 good chances against Juventus, Messi did nothing significant in 4 games against PSG and Juventus. In fact, if it wasn’t for Neymar’s outstanding performance against PSG, Messi would’ve exited the tournament in the round of 16.

On the other hand, Ronaldo took decisiveness to a whole another level. No one has ever scored 10 in UCL KO stages in one season. He did it in the 5 games starting in the QF against Bayern & Neuer, Atleti & Oblak, and Juve & Buffon. Overall, Ronaldo had 12 goal contributions (goals+assists) in the KO phase this season, which is equal to bigger than the number any MSN member had over the last 3 seasons (14/15–16/17 : Messi : 10 - Suarez : 12 - Neymar : 12).

That’s beyond words like “incredible” or “insane”.

Champions League was Ronaldo’s show this season more than any Champions League was any player’s show any season, ever.

So to sums it up as you said there is actually no comparison in terms of individual performances let alone overall impact its ronaldo all the way hands down

 

[Protea Fan]

You are wasting your time, this forum is full of Ronaldo fan-boys. Any serious observer will agree with you that Messi is better than Ronaldo, and that has always been the case.

There is a good reason why most football managers as well as a lot credible experts rate his as the GOAT.

As if what messi fan boys believe is the end of football and they are the only people who following the game

Heck hypocrisy everywhere

 

[Mamoon]

As if what messi fan boys believe is the end of football and they are the only people who following the game

Heck hypocrisy everywhere

Messi is better than Ronaldo individually and that is a fact that cannot be debated. Both Messi and Ronaldo are supreme goal scorers, but Messi is also a supreme playmaker which Ronaldo is not.

To claim that Ronaldo is better than Messi at an individual level is a joke.

 

[Aman]

Messi is better than Ronaldo individually and that is a fact that cannot be debated. Both Messi and Ronaldo are supreme goal scorers, but Messi is also a supreme playmaker which Ronaldo is not.

To claim that Ronaldo is better than Messi at an individual level is a joke.

It will be a travesty if Ronaldo steals this Ballon d'Or this has been Messi's best year in a while and without question he has been the best footballer on the planet for the last 12 months. No offside goals in a span of 4 games should change that.

Come the two biggest games of the year, Messi stood up.

He was immense in El Clasico and scored a late winner against Real Madrid to keep their title hopes alive and in the second biggest game of his career he carried his country to a WC after being a goal down after 40 seconds.

If anyone Ronaldo has been better individually this year, they do not have a clue and do not watch Messi. If the Ballon d'or is about who shows up for the back end of the CL and scores tap ins and offside goals, go ahead and give it to Ronaldo. If it's given to the best individual player of the year who the majority (practicially anyone who isn't a Madrid, Utd or Portugal fan - although I've seen quite a few from those fan bases say Messi deserves it today) consider the best footballer in the world - you rightfully give Messi his 6th Ballon d'or.

 

[Aman]

As if what messi fan boys believe is the end of football and they are the only people who following the game

Heck hypocrisy everywhere

Mate, your boy was so triggered by what Messi did to him at the Bernabeu he copied his celebration. It's tacky, wreaks of inferiority complex and is embarrassing as hell, Messi's was an iconic celebration after scoring a late winner to bring up 500 goals and keep his teams title hopes alive. What Ronaldo did was cost his team potentially 4 points in the La Liga race with his cheap celebration and pathetic dive for 2 minutes of revenge in a match for a trophy no one gives a damn about.

 

[Asif khan]

Ronaldo is a goal scoring machine - Messi is the GOAT.

 

[Heisenberg]

May be my football knowledge is not that vast or keen as you but i can show something to prove you are terribly wrong here.And for your information goals win you matches end of the day and ronaldo's current role in madrd lineup is just to score the goals and he's doing it in a near perfect way.If you are watching madrid's games recently in a midfield which consist of modirc,kroos and isco,ronaldo didn't need to do the fancy playmaking role anymore,back then in his united days the team demands ronaldo to do so and he brilliantly did that job

Couldn't read after this mate. Ronaldo may have played playmaker when he was in some under 12s team but he doesn't have the skill set for playing making in professional football. He was an exciting winger with flair at United and more of a forward in his last season. He gave that up for the numbers because he wanted to win the balloon. The difference is right there. Messi can be Messi. He can dribble past five players and break the lines with passes nobody is capable of and still be the supreme goal scorer that he is. He gives penalties/free kicks to Suarez and Neymar when he was there. He tries to set up his teammates when he's on hat tricks. That's in stark contrast to Ronaldo and tbf that's what's made him what he is. He will go down as top 5 players ever because of that obsession so fair play to him and I'm a big fan of that mentality. But a player that can be compared to Messi? No.

 

[Protea Fan]

Mate, your boy was so triggered by what Messi did to him at the Bernabeu he copied his celebration. It's tacky, wreaks of inferiority complex and is embarrassing as hell, Messi's was an iconic celebration after scoring a late winner to bring up 500 goals and keep his teams title hopes alive. What Ronaldo did was cost his team potentially 4 points in the La Liga race with his cheap celebration and pathetic dive for 2 minutes of revenge in a match for a trophy no one gives a damn about.

First of all i reccommend you to watch a bit more football rather than blindly looking at barca medias and whining here simply

Are you sure madrid boys triggered with messi's celebration at bernabeu?mate that celebration and goals are useless as pique tweets then why we are bothering about that.Firstly barca didn't gained anything with those goals,at the end of the day real madrid are the champions of laliga for you information.

Secondly ronaldo celebration was indeed burning for you guys because that was a winning goal and madrid humiliated barca infront of their crowd and won a trophy finally so simply that wasn't uselles as messi's ones

I can only laugh at the phrase ronaldo costed real 4 points.Lets see who going to win the league next year

And for your information messi is a copycat who just copied marcelo's iconic celebration and marcelo was the one asked ronaldo to take off his shirt,thats why i first said do watch some football atleast before talking too much

 

[Protea Fan]

Messi is better than Ronaldo individually and that is a fact that cannot be debated. Both Messi and Ronaldo are supreme goal scorers, but Messi is also a supreme playmaker which Ronaldo is not.

To claim that Ronaldo is better than Messi at an individual level is a joke.

Ronaldo didn't need to do fancy playmaking skills with current madrid because they already has got superior playmakers.As of now he's doing his job perfectly which he demands

I would definitely pick a player who can win you big matches by scoring goals rather than someone who dribble past 4-5 defenders and lost the ball at end of the day

 

[Protea Fan]

Couldn't read after this mate. Ronaldo may have played playmaker when he was in some under 12s team but he doesn't have the skill set for playing making in professional football. He was an exciting winger with flair at United and more of a forward in his last season. He gave that up for the numbers because he wanted to win the balloon. The difference is right there. Messi can be Messi. He can dribble past five players and break the lines with passes nobody is capable of and still be the supreme goal scorer that he is. He gives penalties/free kicks to Suarez and Neymar when he was there. He tries to set up his teammates when he's on hat tricks. That's in stark contrast to Ronaldo and tbf that's what's made him what he is. He will go down as top 5 players ever because of that obsession so fair play to him and I'm a big fan of that mentality. But a player that can be compared to Messi? No.

Read it or not thats up to you anyway i have explained with details why ronaldo deserves the ballon d'or this year.if you have any counter arguments i am welcoming it

Then when it comes to playmakng skills people only say about one side i agree messi’s game is very easy on the eyes, especially to amateur football fans That’s because Messi is the type of footballer who excels with the ball at his feet.However there’s a key weakness is their which is not visible clearly without the ball,When his ball supply is cut off through close marking, dominating the midfield, or high pressing and counter-pressing you can easily cut off all of his potency.That’s why Barça had to spend a lot to buy neymar and suarez to stop people from ganging up on Messi

Once upon a time, cristiano was also a footballer who loved having the ball at his feet. To be fair, his stepovers surprised a lot of defenders back then, and his pace allowed him to punish the defense’s even tiniest mistake. But football evolved, messi emerged, defenders took notice, his pace slowed, and Ronaldo knew that relying solely on his skills as a mere mortal he could never compete for the title of the best.

That’s why he evolved into the unorthodox winger/striker with probably the best off-the-ball movement in the world, especially near and inside the penalty box.

In a way, that was a natural evolution of his stepover: he naturally moves into blind spots of defenders, and with fake movements shifts into deadly position, unmarked, where with a single pass he could cause maximum havoc.

Because he often managed to do that when there were three to four defenders surrounding him, it took a genius level of brain, skill, and physical abilities to do it so consistently at such a high level as Cristiano Ronaldo has done the last few years.

People without adequate off-the-ball understanding of football knowledge would undoubtedly dismiss his crazy skills within the box as simple “tap-ins”, but they have never been able to explain why even top-class defenses the like of Juventus, Bayern and Atletico allowed him to move so freely into such dangerous positions in the first place.

For sure, off-the-ball movements do not look as beautiful to untrained eyes as Messi’s insane dribbling, multiple take-ons, long-range finishes, or his killer passes, mainly because in TV matches the camera man always focuses on the ball. However, off-the-ball skills are often as important, if not more, to his team and to football itself.

I couldn't get whats the benefit of talking about awarding penalities/freekicks here to get sympathy?
Ronaldo didin't need you guys certificate whatsoever to prove something.He's already achieved everything including a trophy with his country an will be remembered till football last.And now the 5th world player award within a span of time

Long live Cristiano
You love make him strong your hate make him unstoppable

 

[Mamoon]

Ronaldo didn't need to do fancy playmaking skills with current madrid because they already has got superior playmakers.As of now he's doing his job perfectly which he demands

Even Ronaldo will feel embarrassed at listening to these excuses. It is not about not having the need, but the fact that Ronaldo is nowhere close to Messi when it comes to playmaking.

Messi has spent most of his career playing with Xavi and Iniesta. Two creative geniuses who are a level above any playmaker Ronaldo has played, but Messi was still a creative genius in their presence.

Modric and Kroos are top class, but they are at the same level as Xavi (best CM of all time) and Iniesta. (Zidane 2.0)

I would definitely pick a player who can win you big matches by scoring goals rather than someone who dribble past 4-5 defenders and lost the ball at end of the day

Who is this player?

It is not Messi because he dribbles past 4-5 defenders and then scores.

Ronaldo is a legend himself, one of the greatest goal scorers of all time and certainly among the best five players to have played the game, and is undoubtedly the biggest superstar in football history, but Messi is a genius and the most gifted and complete attacker of all time.

He is literally a legendary striker, winger and playmaker rolled into one. His ability is insane, and that is why most footballers, managers and credible experts consider him the greatest of all time.

The only group that considers Ronaldo better are Man United/Madrid fans and Man United players and his managers, who all have a strong bias for him. Even the players who have played with both Messi and Ronaldo consider Messi superior.

 

[KingKhanWC]

It's stupid to compare two great players. Both have different abilities and imo are equally as good.

The topic is who should win the 2017 Ballon d'Or. Ronaldo helped his team to CL and Euro success, so I give him the nod.

 

[Dead Ball]

Ronaldo will win it this time.

Although if it was down to pure individual performance, Messi should have won it every year since 2009 except 2014.

 

[adil_909]

Will probably go to Ronaldo due to how well Madrid has done. But individually, Messi is miles ahead, and I'm sure even Ronaldo himself knows that.

 

[thelandofthebravepeople]

To people her saying Ronaldo will win it due to Real Madrid doing well, but Messi has done individually better..

Take a look at his 10 or so goal in knockout phase of CL. Without those RM would not win the CL. And that's basically why Ronaldo will win, because he helped RM win record back to back CL.

 

[Heisenberg]

Read it or not thats up to you anyway i have explained with details why ronaldo deserves the ballon d'or this year.if you have any counter arguments i am welcoming it

Then when it comes to playmakng skills people only say about one side i agree messi’s game is very easy on the eyes, especially to amateur football fans That’s because Messi is the type of footballer who excels with the ball at his feet.However there’s a key weakness is their which is not visible clearly without the ball,When his ball supply is cut off through close marking, dominating the midfield, or high pressing and counter-pressing you can easily cut off all of his potency.That’s why Barça had to spend a lot to buy neymar and suarez to stop people from ganging up on Messi

Once upon a time, cristiano was also a footballer who loved having the ball at his feet. To be fair, his stepovers surprised a lot of defenders back then, and his pace allowed him to punish the defense’s even tiniest mistake. But football evolved, messi emerged, defenders took notice, his pace slowed, and Ronaldo knew that relying solely on his skills as a mere mortal he could never compete for the title of the best.

That’s why he evolved into the unorthodox winger/striker with probably the best off-the-ball movement in the world, especially near and inside the penalty box.

In a way, that was a natural evolution of his stepover: he naturally moves into blind spots of defenders, and with fake movements shifts into deadly position, unmarked, where with a single pass he could cause maximum havoc.

Because he often managed to do that when there were three to four defenders surrounding him, it took a genius level of brain, skill, and physical abilities to do it so consistently at such a high level as Cristiano Ronaldo has done the last few years.

People without adequate off-the-ball understanding of football knowledge would undoubtedly dismiss his crazy skills within the box as simple “tap-ins”, but they have never been able to explain why even top-class defenses the like of Juventus, Bayern and Atletico allowed him to move so freely into such dangerous positions in the first place.

For sure, off-the-ball movements do not look as beautiful to untrained eyes as Messi’s insane dribbling, multiple take-ons, long-range finishes, or his killer passes, mainly because in TV matches the camera man always focuses on the ball. However, off-the-ball skills are often as important, if not more, to his team and to football itself.

I couldn't get whats the benefit of talking about awarding penalities/freekicks here to get sympathy?
Ronaldo didin't need you guys certificate whatsoever to prove something.He's already achieved everything including a trophy with his country an will be remembered till football last.And now the 5th world player award within a span of time

Long live Cristiano
You love make him strong your hate make him unstoppable

I do hope your trained eye and footballing brain knows that movement relies on teammates.

Real Madrid can create chances for Ronaldo because he has immense movement but they also put it on a plate for him a few times every game due to their excellent playmakers and supporting cast. Something Messi has to do for Barcelona and also be the main goalscorer. When Messi had Xavi and Iniesta in their prime he was by far the better goalscorer too. That year he scored 90 goals or whatever it was, nobody can come close to that. The man you described as runs past five players and loses the ball. Some trained eye you got.

I'm not interested in fan boy debate. I literally said he'd be top 5 of the game of all time and my hate makes him unstoppable. Need to train your eye in comprehensive skills too.

 

[Aman]

To people her saying Ronaldo will win it due to Real Madrid doing well, but Messi has done individually better..

Take a look at his 10 or so goal in knockout phase of CL. Without those RM would not win the CL. And that's basically why Ronaldo will win, because he helped RM win record back to back CL.

How many of those 10 goals were offside or simple tap ins?

Messi was individually better this year and has carrying his club and country. It isn't close who was better over the year.

Just have a look at how Messi responded to Neymar's departure and Argentina's woes in qualifiers.

 

[Aman]

Will probably go to Ronaldo due to how well Madrid has done. But individually, Messi is miles ahead, and I'm sure even Ronaldo himself knows that.

There are plenty that will admit it then there's the others like Protea fan and thelandofthebrave who live in their own little world.

 

[Aman]

First of all i reccommend you to watch a bit more football rather than blindly looking at barca medias and whining here simply

Are you sure madrid boys triggered with messi's celebration at bernabeu?mate that celebration and goals are useless as pique tweets then why we are bothering about that.Firstly barca didn't gained anything with those goals,at the end of the day real madrid are the champions of laliga for you information.

Secondly ronaldo celebration was indeed burning for you guys because that was a winning goal and madrid humiliated barca infront of their crowd and won a trophy finally so simply that wasn't uselles as messi's ones

I can only laugh at the phrase ronaldo costed real 4 points.Lets see who going to win the league next year

And for your information messi is a copycat who just copied marcelo's iconic celebration and marcelo was the one asked ronaldo to take off his shirt,thats why i first said do watch some football atleast before talking too much

Like Messi and the rest of the world, I doubt anyone saw that. I don't think it was even shown on TV, it seems to have popped by since Ronaldo's celebration )

 

[Mamoon]

To people her saying Ronaldo will win it due to Real Madrid doing well, but Messi has done individually better..

Take a look at his 10 or so goal in knockout phase of CL. Without those RM would not win the CL. And that's basically why Ronaldo will win, because he helped RM win record back to back CL.

Phenomenal achievement, but 3-4 of the goals were blatantly off-side, and Bayern getting knocked out was a farce. They dominated over the two but unfortunately they didn't have the officials in their pocket unlike Madrid.

 

[Mamoon]

[MENTION=142471]Protea Fan[/MENTION]

Do you honestly think that Ronaldo did that celebration because of Marcelo and NOT because of what Messi did at the Bernabéu?

So Ronaldo doesn't do playmaking because he already has good playmakers in his team, and he didn't copy Messi's celebration because he was inspired by Marcelo.

What next?

Ronaldo hits 90% of his free-kicks straight into the wall these days because he is too great to score from free-kicks?

 

[Aman]

Phenomenal achievement, but 3-4 of the goals were blatantly off-side, and Bayern getting knocked out was a farce. They dominated over the two but unfortunately they didn't have the officials in their pocket unlike Madrid.

If he wins the Ballon d'or because of those goals, it will be a travesty. Messi has been the best the last year and we all know this, that includes Real Madrid fans who know it deep down. The number of fans calling Messi the best in the world and GOAT wouldn't have grown if that was the case.

 

[Extra_Cover]

I can see Ronaldo winning this on the basis of Real having a great last season. But more worryingly I can see Ronaldo fan boys naming him GOAT and taking cheap digs at Messi.

Being a neutral, it is safe to say Messi is better than Ronaldo in the overall play. Ronaldo is more clinical, better at set pieces, better in air. But Messi is easily better at dribbling, play making, box play esp creating rooms for other to run into (attracting 3-4 defenders towards him and slipping through a pass over the areas made vacant), etc.

It is no joke that almost every critique or expert rates Messi higher than Ronaldo.

 

[Heisenberg]

I can see Ronaldo winning this on the basis of Real having a great last season. But more worryingly I can see Ronaldo fan boys naming him GOAT and taking cheap digs at Messi.

Being a neutral, it is safe to say Messi is better than Ronaldo in the overall play. Ronaldo is more clinical, better at set pieces, better in air. But Messi is easily better at dribbling, play making, box play esp creating rooms for other to run into (attracting 3-4 defenders towards him and slipping through a pass over the areas made vacant), etc.

It is no joke that almost every critique or expert rates Messi higher than Ronaldo.

Messi's conversion rate is better but agree with the rest of it apart from clinical. That's how they score similar number of goals with one being in the box 90 percent of the times and the other one mostly spending it between the lines. If Ronaldo was even equally clinical he would be far ahead in goal scoring terms which hasn't been the case in this decade old comparison now. His stats are also skewed by really random improbable shots he takes but it's all part of it.

 

[Dead Ball]

If he wins the Ballon d'or because of those goals, it will be a travesty. Messi has been the best the last year and we all know this, that includes Real Madrid fans who know it deep down. The number of fans calling Messi the best in the world and GOAT wouldn't have grown if that was the case.

Ronaldo may deserve it this time. I think Messi should have won last year.

Messi was neutralised in the four knockout games he played in the Champions League against PSG and Juve. That should count against him. Ronaldo gave the best knockout stage performance in CL history (as far as goals are concerned)

Looking forward to see how they both perform at WC 2018

 

[thelandofthebravepeople]

How many of those 10 goals were offside or simple tap ins?

Messi was individually better this year and has carrying his club and country. It isn't close who was better over the year.

Just have a look at how Messi responded to Neymar's departure and Argentina's woes in qualifiers.

Before the hattrick against Ecuador Argentina had played 3 draws and lost one game! Were was Messi then? If he was so great why not secure the qualification earlier? Messi never carried the National team. I think Argentina will do better once Messi retire.

 

[thelandofthebravepeople]

Phenomenal achievement, but 3-4 of the goals were blatantly off-side, and Bayern getting knocked out was a farce. They dominated over the two but unfortunately they didn't have the officials in their pocket unlike Madrid.

Keep whining all day long, but it does not change Madrid won 2 CL back to back.

What did Bayern dominate? Yes they started well at home and put pressure on Madrid and scored, but at 1-0 Bayern got a penalty - which was never a penalty? How do you eggsplain that? If Vidal had scored it was 2-0 and pretty much all over. They screamed for the penalty when it never hit Carvajal arm!

Martinez was correctly given red card and Madrid turned it around. Bayern was lucky it only ended 1-2 thanks to Neuer. The kind of chances RM had it could easily have been 1-5.

In the second leg a lot of people question Vidal red card, but he should have been thrown out much earlier. The challenge on Asensio was also a foul and got correctly shown his second yellow. They got a doubtful penalty to Robben. The own goal by Ramos was also offside. Thomas Müller was offside when he received the ball.

The ref was not great, but watch the PSG vs Barcelona game and see how much help Messi and Co got in that game. At least Madrid were hones ref mistake - Our team did not deliberately try to cheat the ref like Neymar and Suarez.

 

[thelandofthebravepeople]

How many of those 10 goals were offside or simple tap ins?

Messi was individually better this year and has carrying his club and country. It isn't close who was better over the year.

Just have a look at how Messi responded to Neymar's departure and Argentina's woes in qualifiers.

How many of those goals were important? How many tap ins did Messi score in knockout games? The only goal he scored in knockout game was against against PSG on penalty. He shitted himself against Juve - Same opponent Ronaldo scored 2 goals against in the Final.

Now that he scored a hattrick against Ecuador who had lost 5 games back to back and had nothing to play for everyone suddenly goes crazy.

 

[thelandofthebravepeople]

Ronaldo always correctly won Balon D'or while Messi stole on from Sneijder in 2010 who helped Inter win the treble and made it to the WC final with Netherlands.

 

[Heisenberg]

Before the hattrick against Ecuador Argentina had played 3 draws and lost one game! Were was Messi then? If he was so great why not secure the qualification earlier? Messi never carried the National team. I think Argentina will do better once Messi retire.

I hope you do know that Messi did not play, I think 8 or 9 games, out of the 17 and they couldn't win a qualification game; had to beg him to come back. He did come back and got them qualification single handedly. Nobody has scored a competitive goal for Argentina in the last year except Messi. Yes nobody has scored a single goal. Sure they'll be brilliant without him as they were with their fantastic record of 1 win in 7 and the turn around was just random apart from you know all that carrying he did.

That game against Ecuador is also a legendary achievement. Argentina hadn't won there since 2001 and it makes sense because nobody is used to the atmosphere of the altitude their home games are at. First minute and they concede. Against Peru, their other forwards missed some guilt edged chances which Messi obviously had created. There was only one thing he could do and he did that. I bet Ronaldo had everything to do with Portugal's qualification scoring bucket loads against the mighty Andorra and Faroe Islands who share similar rankings to crap Asian national sides. Just as he won them the Euro's playing cheerleader in the final.

 

[Heisenberg]

Keep whining all day long, but it does not change Madrid won 2 CL back to back.

What did Bayern dominate? Yes they started well at home and put pressure on Madrid and scored, but at 1-0 Bayern got a penalty - which was never a penalty? How do you eggsplain that? If Vidal had scored it was 2-0 and pretty much all over. They screamed for the penalty when it never hit Carvajal arm!

Martinez was correctly given red card and Madrid turned it around. Bayern was lucky it only ended 1-2 thanks to Neuer. The kind of chances RM had it could easily have been 1-5.

In the second leg a lot of people question Vidal red card, but he should have been thrown out much earlier. The challenge on Asensio was also a foul and got correctly shown his second yellow. They got a doubtful penalty to Robben. The own goal by Ramos was also offside. Thomas Müller was offside when he received the ball.

The ref was not great, but watch the PSG vs Barcelona game and see how much help Messi and Co got in that game. At least Madrid were hones ref mistake - Our team did not deliberately try to cheat the ref like Neymar and Suarez.

Loooooool. Sergio Ramos in the final says hi.

 

[Heisenberg]

How many of those goals were important? How many tap ins did Messi score in knockout games? The only goal he scored in knockout game was against against PSG on penalty. He shitted himself against Juve - Same opponent Ronaldo scored 2 goals against in the Final.

Now that he scored a hattrick against Ecuador who had lost 5 games back to back and had nothing to play for everyone suddenly goes crazy.

They won't ever get over the Juve game in their lives. Where was Ronaldo when Messi ran through the whole Madrid defence on his way to winning the treble? How many times has Ronaldo helped Madrid win the treble? Why has Ronaldo only managed two league titles in eight years at Real Madrid?

 

[Arham_PakFan]

They won't ever get over the Juve game in their lives. Where was Ronaldo when Messi ran through the whole Madrid defence on his way to winning the treble? How many times has Ronaldo helped Madrid win the treble? Why has Ronaldo only managed two league titles in eight years at Real Madrid? See that's what happens when you want to do fan boy, immature and brain cell killing arguments.

Did Messi win the treble this year?Yeah Ronaldo won only 2 league titles in 7 seasons,but he won one last season as well as the Champions League.He was vital to both of Real Madrid’s trophy wins.You’re the one who’s using cancerous logic.This topic is about the last season,yet you’re bringing up performances from the 3 years ago.Ronaldo hasn’t helped Madrid win a treble but he’s helped them win 2 Champions League trophies back to back scoring 2 in the last final against the same opponents Messi went missing against.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Did Messi win the treble this year?Yeah Ronaldo won only 2 league titles in 7 seasons,but he won one last season as well as the Champions League.He was vital to both of Real Madrid’s trophy wins.You’re the one who’s using cancerous logic.This topic is about the last season,yet you’re bringing up performances from 3 years ago.Ronaldo hasn’t helped Madrid win a treble but he’s helped them win 2 Champions League trophies back to back scoring 2 in the last final against Juventus, the same opponents that Messi went missing against.

Fixed.

 

[Heisenberg]

Did Messi win the treble this year?Yeah Ronaldo won only 2 league titles in 7 seasons,but he won one last season as well as the Champions League.He was vital to both of Real Madrid’s trophy wins.You’re the one who’s using cancerous logic.This topic is about the last season,yet you’re bringing up performances from the 3 years ago.Ronaldo hasn’t helped Madrid win a treble but he’s helped them win 2 Champions League trophies back to back scoring 2 in the last final against the same opponents Messi went missing against.

That was kind of the point. Ronaldo was missing in the two el clasicos last season but his team mate bailed him out in Barcelona with a 90th minute header among countless other 90th minute header during that league win. Then he went on to miss that 6 yard open net sitter while Messi ran rings around Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu. If as a hypothetical - actually this is reality - so if Sergio Ramos had not bailed Real Madrid out Barcelona would have won the title on head to head last season because of Ronaldo's miss in the reverse fixture.

So you don't really want to go on individual games because they aren't the correct gauge. Especially for the Ronaldo argument. If anyone should win the Balloon, it is Marcelo anyway.

 

[Mamoon]

Ronaldo always correctly won Balon D'or while Messi stole on from Sneijder in 2010 who helped Inter win the treble and made it to the WC final with Netherlands.

Sneijder didn't even win Inter's Player of the Year Award in 2010. Diego Milito did.

Messi deserved to win the Ballon d'Or.

 

[Aman]

How many of those goals were important? How many tap ins did Messi score in knockout games? The only goal he scored in knockout game was against against PSG on penalty. He shitted himself against Juve - Same opponent Ronaldo scored 2 goals against in the Final.

Now that he scored a hattrick against Ecuador who had lost 5 games back to back and had nothing to play for everyone suddenly goes crazy.

Because failed because he didn't do well in one CL game?

First league against Juventus he created several goal scoring chances, the other two big games of the season were against Madrid and Ecuador. He delivered in both, Messi was without a shadow of a doubt better in league as well and up until the CL Final, Messi was ahead in the goal scoring charts in the CL . It took 390 minutes extra to match Messi's goal tally.

CR
Minutes: 1200
Goals: 12 (several of which were offside)
Attempts: 27

Messi:
Minutes: 810
Goals: 11
Attempts: 15

 

[thelandofthebravepeople]

They won't ever get over the Juve game in their lives. Where was Ronaldo when Messi ran through the whole Madrid defence on his way to winning the treble? How many times has Ronaldo helped Madrid win the treble? Why has Ronaldo only managed two league titles in eight years at Real Madrid?

We are not talking history here. The thread is about who did most to win the Balon D'or 2017. And no, you can't find arguments for Messi to win it.

 

[thelandofthebravepeople]

Because failed because he didn't do well in one CL game?

First league against Juventus he created several goal scoring chances, the other two big games of the season were against Madrid and Ecuador. He delivered in both, Messi was without a shadow of a doubt better in league as well and up until the CL Final, Messi was ahead in the goal scoring charts in the CL . It took 390 minutes extra to match Messi's goal tally.

CR
Minutes: 1200
Goals: 12 (several of which were offside)
Attempts: 27

Messi:
Minutes: 810
Goals: 11
Attempts: 15

Messi scored his goals in the easy group games. Ronaldo scored when it mattered the most.

 

[Aman]

Messi scored his goals in the easy group games. Ronaldo scored when it mattered the most.

Tap ins and off side goals don't make you the best in the world.

 

[MenInG]

The Ballon d’Or is the award given to the best player in the world.

This year 30 players have been nominated although it is likely to go to one of the big two.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are the only winners of the award in its current form.

You need to go back to 2007 to find a different winner when Kaka topped Ronaldo and Messi - who finished second and third respectively.

And the pair are expected to head the votes again this year with Ronaldo winning the Champions League and La Liga double in May.

Ronaldo is the big favourite but we'll find out later today if he's drawn level with Messi.

When is the 2017 Ballon d’Or awards?

The 62nd edition Ballon d'Or will be held on Thursday, December 7.

The ceremony kicks-off at 6.45pm GMT, 7.45pm local time.

Where is the 2017 Ballon d’Or awards?

The ceremony is held in Paris.

Who will present the Ballon d’Or?

Former Tottenham and Newcastle winger David Ginola will present the awards ceremony.

Who will win the Ballon d’Or?

Cristiano Ronaldo is the big favourite after another stunning year.

If he is victorious he will join Lionel Messi on five Ballon d’Ors.

Similarly if Messi comes second, he will join Ronaldo on five second places.

Last year Neymar came third and he may do again.

How do you win the Ballon d’Or?

The Ballon d’Or is held by French Football magazine and they ask 173 journalists from all over the world to vote.


The full Ballon d’Or shortlist

Neymar - Paris Saint-Germain

N'Golo Kante - Chelsea

Luka Modric - Real Madrid

Paulo Dybala - Juventus

Marcelo - Real Madrid

Edin Dzeko - Roma

Harry Kane - Tottenham

David De Gea - Manchester United

Robert Lewandowski - Bayern Munich

Kevin De Bruyne - Manchester City

Karim Benzema - Real Madrid

Pierre-Emerick Aubemyang - Borussia Dortmund

Edinson Cavani - Paris Saint-Germain

Philippe Coutinho - Liverpool

Luis Suarez - Barcelona

Jan Oblak - Atletico Madrid

Sergio Ramos - Real Madrid

Dries Mertens - Napoli

Radamel Falcao - Monaco

Sadio Mane - Liverpool

Gianluigi Buffon - Juventus

Antoine Griezmann - Atletico Madrid

Toni Kroos - Real Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo - Real Madrid

Eden Hazard - Chelsea

Leonardo Bonucci - AC Milan

Isco - Real Madrid

Lionel Messi - Barcelona

Mats Hummels - Bayern Munich

Kylian Mbappe - Paris Saint-Germain


https://www.express.co.uk/sport/foo...7-start-time-location-shortlist-Ronaldo-Messi

 

[Abdullah719]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">2⃣9⃣ - Coutinho <br>2⃣9⃣ - Dries Mertens<br>2⃣8⃣ - Edin Dzeko<br>2⃣7⃣ - Mats Hummels<br>2⃣6⃣ - Jan Oblak<br>2⃣5⃣ - Karim Benzema<br>2⃣4⃣ - Radamel Falcao<br>2⃣3⃣ - Sadio Mane<br>2⃣1⃣ - Leonardo Bonucci<br>2⃣1⃣ - Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang<br>2⃣0⃣ - David De Gea</p>— FourFourTwo ️ (@FourFourTwo) <a href="https://twitter.com/FourFourTwo/status/938820957246025729?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">1⃣9⃣ - Eden Hazard<br>1⃣8⃣ - Antoine Griezmann<br>1⃣7⃣ - Toni Kroos<br>1⃣6⃣ - Marcelo<br>1⃣5⃣ - Paulo Dybala<br>1⃣4⃣ - Kevin De Bruyne<br>1⃣3⃣ - Luis Suarez<br>1⃣2⃣ - Isco<br>1⃣1⃣ - Edinson Cavani</p>— FourFourTwo ️ (@FourFourTwo) <a href="https://twitter.com/FourFourTwo/status/938821684081168384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Dead Ball]

Tap ins and off side goals don't make you the best in the world.

Neither does choking in four must win Champions league games against relatively stronger teams like Juve and PSG. I am a huge Messi fan and i feel he is the best footballer i have ever seen, but Ronaldo deserves it this time.

 

[Abdullah719]

Cristiano Ronaldo wins fifth Ballon d’Or to equal Lionel Messi’s record

Cristiano Ronaldo has won the fifth Ballon d’Or of his career, equalling Lionel Messi’s record after a season that saw him lead Real Madrid to their 12th Champions League title.

The 32-year-old, who moved level with Messi at the top of the all-time Champions League group stage goalscorers leaderboard on Wednesday after helping Madrid to beat Borussia Dortmund, was presented with his award in Paris on Thursday having just pipped his perennial rival.

Tottenham’s Harry Kane was the highest-ranked Englishman in 10th spot, while Chelsea’s N’Golo Kanté finished eighth.

2017 Ballon d’Or final standings

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) 2. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) 3. Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain) 4. Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus) 5. Luka Modric (Real Madrid) 6. Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid) 7. Kylian Mbappé (Paris Saint-Germain) 8. N’Golo Kanté (Chelsea) 9. Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) 10. Harry Kane (Tottenham)

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/dec/07/cristiano-ronaldo-ballon-d-or-equal-messi

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Kroos at no.17?Lol

Bemzema at 25?)

 

[kingusama92]

Just like most said when the nominations went up. Ronaldo was always going to win this year.

 

[shaz619]

Footblling ignaramuses: Well, the point of football is not to score goals; it's to look good on the pitch and choke when it matters most, Ronaldo in reality is overly rated
[MENTION=131867]London_Lahori[/MENTION]

 

[Aman]

Neither does choking in four must win Champions league games against relatively stronger teams like Juve and PSG. I am a huge Messi fan and i feel he is the best footballer i have ever seen, but Ronaldo deserves it this time.

No one thinks Ronaldo is the best football player in the world or the best football player for 2017.

 

[Aman]

Footblling ignaramuses: Well, the point of football is not to score goals; it's to look good on the pitch and choke when it matters most, Ronaldo in reality is overly rated

[MENTION=131867]London_Lahori[/MENTION]

Nothing about Messi carrying a useless Argentina to a WC?

 

[Aman]

[MENTION=46929]shaz619[/MENTION] if Ronaldo wins the WC and plays a significant role in it (also out performs Messi), he will have surpassed Messi.

Still will be behind the likes of Maradona and Pele, those guys were on another level ability wise (yeah only have youtube for this, but you can clearly tell they were elite talents) and you can't put Ronaldo ahead of them.

Only Messi is capable of breaking them to become the GOAT as he has the ability, just not the international titles.

 

[cr7great]

5-5!
------

January 7th, 2013: Lionel Messi was up there on the podium, delivering his acceptance speech as he was chosen as the best player in the world for the fourth consecutive year. Cristiano Ronaldo, the player who had the world at his feet 4 years prior, could only clap from the front row with a 'Pan Am smile' smeared across his face.

The Ballon d'Or count read 4-1. Certainly, there was no catching the magical Argentine, now. He was at the peak of his game, winning trophies, racking goals. Cristiano, as good as he was, was no match for the 'best in the world'. It was decided, Lionel Messi was set to go down in the history books as the most successful player of the era. The world also applauded Ronaldo. For pushing Messi to be the best, for keeping him on his toes, even though he was always the distant second.

December 8th, 2017: Now it was Cristiano Ronaldo up there on the podium, claiming his 5th Ballon d'Or, equalling Lionel Messi's 'untouchable' record. It was 5-5 now. "When I was a kid, I never expected to win a single Ballon d'Or, so just imagine having five… Ever since I won the first, I've worked hard and fought to better myself," he said to ​Real Madrid TV. Ambition.

These two players have now defined an entire decade of football. Lionel Messi with his unmatched wizardry, and Cristiano Ronaldo with his hardwork and ruthlessness. We have seen the boy from Madeira evolve from a traditional winger with a bag of tricks, to a goalscoring machine. He has always been a manager's dream, thanks to his ability to adapt and the intelligence to read the game. And after all of this, after every trophy he's won, he still wants more; he still wants to go the extra mile.

2017/18 hasn't started particularly well for the Portuguese, especially in La Liga. He has managed to score just a couple of goals in 10 league games, adding to the misery of Madrid. Lionel Messi, on the other hand, has once again emerged as the messiah for Barcelona. He is currently sitting at the top of the goalscorer's list and is the favourite for getting his hands on the Pichichi at the end of the season.

Messi's ability to drop deep and control the game is one of the biggest advantages he has over the Real Madrid number 7. Cristiano is all about instinct and precision. But even Cristiano Ronaldo won't stand the test of time. And I guess, we can already see that in his game, the latency between his mind and body. The few microseconds which make all the difference in the world.

A new generation of footballers is emerging. Neymar, Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, and quite a few others are capable of finally ending the dominance of the two greats. Cristiano Ronaldo knows it, too. He won't only be competing with his favourite rival from now on, a host of talents are fighting to dethrone him next year. But if there is one thing we've learnt over the years, it's to never make the mistake of counting Cristiano Ronaldo out. He has a knack for beating the odds, and who knows, we might see him on the podium, once again, a year from now, with a big grin on his face, and the 6th Golden Ball in his hands.

 

[Aman]

I do have to give credit to Ronaldo, it's his hunger, confidence and determination which has kept him in the discussion.

What I've always felt with Messi is that he isn't hungry, he isn't obssessed with stats or being the greatest.

Maybe that's the reason why he'll never hammer down the GOAT title despite being superior to them all.

The likes of Maradona, Pele and Ronaldo were egotistical, Messi just doesn't seem to be the same. He's content with not winning the Ballon d'or, a person of his ability would follow losing this to motivate him, but it doesn't.

 

[cr7great]

"Customary B'Dor Long Post Alert"

When you look at heroes, you'll often find there are two kinds.

One type of heroes are Gods, they define the upper limit of human achievement, they illustrate exactly the best of humanity. They are one's the masses look up to, high in the sky, and from them, they learn to dream.

In 2008, Manchester United's rising star, Cristiano Ronaldo began it all, lifting the FIFA Best trophy. He was no longer a prospect, having finally beat the then best player, Kaka, to reign supreme. To his left, was another young star, from Barcelona, Lionel Messi, who had his own plans. What started there, in that podium a decade ago, is arguably greatest story of Football, told this millennium.

Lionel Messi had already announced himself to the world, much like Cristiano, but after 2008, he would take the game of football and, quoting Ledger from Dark Knight, say, "The world needs a better class of Footballer." And boy, did he deliver. Cristiano Ronaldo, was going stronger than any player in the world, strolling through the crowd of players like a giant through a flower field, but even he could do nothing but just watch the Lionel Messi show unfold. By the time the World of Football looked up, Messi has won the B'Dor 4 times in a row. 2009, 2010,2011 and 2012.

That's not to say that it was CR7's lack of trying. No, the story of 4 years are perhaps the most encouraging for a player, and also the most heartbreaking. He won all there is to win, in terms of individual awards. He scored goals like he was taking candy from a child. He won every team trophy but the champions league. But no matter what he did, he could not help but stand as the tally went to 4-1 for the topmost prize in individual football.

People wondered about his tenure. They questioned the awards tally. They wondered whether Cristiano's efforts deserved better. What they all agreed upon was that no matter how good both of them played at present, Cristiano Ronaldo would go down in history as played in the Lionel Messi Era, that the achievement difference was too much. That Cristiano Ronaldo was, at the end, be dominated by Messsi in the record books. "Mind the Gap" was on their lips. 4 to 1 for Ballon D'Or. 3 - 1 for the Champions League title. Messi likely to win with his famed Argentina as well, the team just starting to be stacked with stars named Higuain, Aguero, Di Maria, with Messi as the cherry on top. While, Portugal was a 1 horse carriage, and the burden of a country was too heavy for any 1 player. The well wishers even began justifications, and consolation praises. "He's better than anyone else, Messi is just from another planet." "Cristiano has had it a lot harder, changing leagues, and positions, while Messi plays as the darling boy of Barcelona." " Messi has a world class team with him, of course he gets better results." Consolation, Justification,....... Excuses.

I won't write what happened next. If you follow football, you already know how this story ends. If you don't, then you haven't read until here anyway. But watching the scene today, one thing comes to mind.

There's another kind of hero. One who starts his life amongst ordinary men. One whose story is defined, not by his ability, but by the absolute, overwhelming insurmountable odds he face. They represent our drive to succeed, they represent each of our battles on a grander scale. They teach people to fight for their dreams.

Their battle defines their saga.They are the ones to face down Monsters and Gods, way above them, and look each in the eye and say, "I don't accept excuses. I don't accept situations out of my control. I don't accept that this is all I can do, that is there is nothing better. I don't want your consolation, I don't want your praise, I don't want sad songs telling my fight. I don't anyone telling how nobody in my place could have done better. All I want, is for you all to shut up, and be the audience to my history. I want you, to watch me WIN."

I don't know which kind of hero is more attractive to man. As stature goes though, at this moment, they are equal.

ONE CRISTIANO

 

[Aman]

They may have 5 each, but they are far from equal.

 

[shaz619]

5-5!
------

January 7th, 2013: Lionel Messi was up there on the podium, delivering his acceptance speech as he was chosen as the best player in the world for the fourth consecutive year. Cristiano Ronaldo, the player who had the world at his feet 4 years prior, could only clap from the front row with a 'Pan Am smile' smeared across his face.

The Ballon d'Or count read 4-1. Certainly, there was no catching the magical Argentine, now. He was at the peak of his game, winning trophies, racking goals. Cristiano, as good as he was, was no match for the 'best in the world'. It was decided, Lionel Messi was set to go down in the history books as the most successful player of the era. The world also applauded Ronaldo. For pushing Messi to be the best, for keeping him on his toes, even though he was always the distant second.

December 8th, 2017: Now it was Cristiano Ronaldo up there on the podium, claiming his 5th Ballon d'Or, equalling Lionel Messi's 'untouchable' record. It was 5-5 now. "When I was a kid, I never expected to win a single Ballon d'Or, so just imagine having five… Ever since I won the first, I've worked hard and fought to better myself," he said to ​Real Madrid TV. Ambition.

These two players have now defined an entire decade of football. Lionel Messi with his unmatched wizardry, and Cristiano Ronaldo with his hardwork and ruthlessness. We have seen the boy from Madeira evolve from a traditional winger with a bag of tricks, to a goalscoring machine. He has always been a manager's dream, thanks to his ability to adapt and the intelligence to read the game. And after all of this, after every trophy he's won, he still wants more; he still wants to go the extra mile.

2017/18 hasn't started particularly well for the Portuguese, especially in La Liga. He has managed to score just a couple of goals in 10 league games, adding to the misery of Madrid. Lionel Messi, on the other hand, has once again emerged as the messiah for Barcelona. He is currently sitting at the top of the goalscorer's list and is the favourite for getting his hands on the Pichichi at the end of the season.

Messi's ability to drop deep and control the game is one of the biggest advantages he has over the Real Madrid number 7. Cristiano is all about instinct and precision. But even Cristiano Ronaldo won't stand the test of time. And I guess, we can already see that in his game, the latency between his mind and body. The few microseconds which make all the difference in the world.

A new generation of footballers is emerging. Neymar, Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, and quite a few others are capable of finally ending the dominance of the two greats. Cristiano Ronaldo knows it, too. He won't only be competing with his favourite rival from now on, a host of talents are fighting to dethrone him next year. But if there is one thing we've learnt over the years, it's to never make the mistake of counting Cristiano Ronaldo out. He has a knack for beating the odds, and who knows, we might see him on the podium, once again, a year from now, with a big grin on his face, and the 6th Golden Ball in his hands.

Such a beautiful post am tearing up, the undisputed greatness of CR7 has now been cemented irrespective of footballing ignaramuses, he will continue to do what is the fundamental objective of the game; score goals! and do it when it matters most. Much respect to the legend and greatest of his era.

 

[MMHS]

They may have 5 each, but they are far from equal.

Yes, one has won everything in ENG, Spain & for Pourtugal; another one is flop even at Barca after that fab generation

 

[MMHS]

Such a beautiful post am tearing up, the undisputed greatness of CR7 has now been cemented irrespective of footballing ignaramuses, he will continue to do what is the fundamental objective of the game; score goals! and do it when it matters most. Much respect to the legend and greatest of his era.

Simply the greatest footballer of his generation and an ultimate winner.

 

[shaz619]

Simply the greatest footballer of his generation and an ultimate winner.

Well said mate, those words in particular have much weight. In the end it's what you achieve that will do all the talking for you. Umar Akmal looks beautiful when he's batting in full flow but does he have much to show for his talent at the elite level? not really, Younis Khan on the other hand is not exactly pleasing on the eye but his achievements have ensured he's one of the greatest batsman Pak have ever produced. It's such a simple concept, the essence of football is to score goals; it's beyond me how anyone can look beyond this it's just insane on so many levels.

 

[Rana]

What an epic rivalry in our lifetime

 

[Asif khan]

Watch them both play with an unbiased mind and a decent set of eyes and you will notice the difference instantly.
One looks technically inferior to many of his own team mates who serve him on a platter whilst the other one is the creative and goal scoring hub of his team.

Goal scoring wise, it's an amazing contest.

Footballing ability wise, there is no contest.

 

[SandyB]

What an epic rivalry in our lifetime

Isn't the Fed - Rafa thing even greater ?

 

[shaz619]

Isn't the Fed - Rafa thing even greater ?

No, you're both wrong. There is no rivalry greater then Kell Brook - Carson Jones
[MENTION=43583]KingKhanWC[/MENTION] [MENTION=133972]shaykh[/MENTION]

 

[Rana]

Isn't the Fed - Rafa thing even greater ?

No who cares about Tennis?

 

[Aman]

Well said mate, those words in particular have much weight. In the end it's what you achieve that will do all the talking for you. Umar Akmal looks beautiful when he's batting in full flow but does he have much to show for his talent at the elite level? not really, Younis Khan on the other hand is not exactly pleasing on the eye but his achievements have ensured he's one of the greatest batsman Pak have ever produced. It's such a simple concept, the essence of football is to score goals; it's beyond me how anyone can look beyond this it's just insane on so many levels.

Your point?

Messi could have signed for City and walked a PL and CL, he chose to stay with Barcelona and try carry them to another Liga and CL.

There's such a thing as loyalty but that seems to go out the window for Messi.

 

[Aman]

Hell, he could have signed for Bayern and walked a Bundesliga and had a far better chance of winning the CL than he does with Barca. But what's the point? To prove some kids wrong?

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Reading the comments, looks like Messi is Tendulkar while Ronaldo is Lara and people are trying to hard to prove Lara (all formats) > Tendu (all formats)

hehe.....

 

[Rana]

Reading the comments, looks like Messi is Tendulkar while Ronaldo is Lara and people are trying to hard to prove Lara (all formats) > Tendu (all formats)

hehe.....

Say what you must but winning the balon d'or as a premier league player puts him over Messi no matter how prolific and great he looks for Barcelona. Im not saying Messi cannot do the same in the Premier League. He probably needs a team like City or Chelsea and he will be unstoppable in England as well, but the mere thought of speculation will not testify compared to proof that Ronaldo has been unstoppable in 2 different top class leagues.

 

[GudduBadmash]

Anybody here that plays football would fear facing both as technically magnificent but there is not one defender out there that would like to go up against a tall, pacy, physical striker that uses both feet and has one of the best aerial abilities in the world.

You could bully Messi around if you wanted to, harder to do that to Ronaldo. He was 5-1 down and has clawed it to 5-5, shows his ability and anybody still doubting it has a serious agenda.

 

[Asif khan]

Anybody here that plays football would fear facing both as technically magnificent but there is not one defender out there that would like to go up against a tall, pacy, physical striker that uses both feet and has one of the best aerial abilities in the world.

You could bully Messi around if you wanted to, harder to do that to Ronaldo. He was 5-1 down and has clawed it to 5-5, shows his ability and anybody still doubting it has a serious agenda.

Well, most of the top defenders, who HAVE faced both say Messi is on another level to Ronaldo! What do you think about that?

 

[IAJ]

They are earning millions and here the keyboard warriors (including myself) are fighting with eachother on who is better of both lols.

 

[London_Lahori]

Footblling ignaramuses: Well, the point of football is not to score goals; it's to look good on the pitch and choke when it matters most, Ronaldo in reality is overly rated

[MENTION=131867]London_Lahori[/MENTION]

Let's hope he gets at least one more. Preferably after helping Portugal to the World Cup