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Is Virat Kohli the cricketing equivalent of Cristiano Ronaldo?

Slog

Slog

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Both put in insane amount of effort in training and just when you think they have peaked they tend to go up another level.

Discuss
 
Yes, love them both. Both are also great guys off the pitch as well. Only thing I don't like is Kohli's celebration after each wicket, aggression is good but cursing is not. Otherwise yeah Ronaldo comparison is good.
 
Madplayer said:
Babar isnt Messi. He is the Messiah :genius

ABD was Messi.
Click to expand...

Interesting.

When I was making the thread I also wondered that if Kohli is Ronaldo then who is Messi? And AB was the first name which came in my mind
 
De Villiers was no Messi. Messi is the greatest ever and better than Ronaldo. The only point of comparison between the two is that both are freakishly talented, but Messi’s achievements pale over de Villiers’.

Kohli is the Ronaldo of cricket, but cricket does not have a Messi.
 
Mamoon said:
De Villiers was no Messi. Messi is the greatest ever and better than Ronaldo. The only point of comparison between the two is that both are freakishly talented, but Messi’s achievements pale over de Villiers’.

Kohli is the Ronaldo of cricket, but cricket does not have a Messi.
Click to expand...

Well Messi failed to win Argentina a world cup too. So that makes two similarities :yk
 
Slog said:
Interesting.

When I was making the thread I also wondered that if Kohli is Ronaldo then who is Messi? And AB was the first name which came in my mind
Click to expand...

There is no one else who can fit the comparison.
 
Mamoon said:
De Villiers was no Messi. Messi is the greatest ever and better than Ronaldo. The only point of comparison between the two is that both are freakishly talented, but Messi’s achievements pale over de Villiers’.

Kohli is the Ronaldo of cricket, but cricket does not have a Messi.
Click to expand...

I mean tower over de Villiers’.
 
Mamoon said:
De Villiers was no Messi. Messi is the greatest ever and better than Ronaldo. The only point of comparison between the two is that both are freakishly talented, but Messi’s achievements pale over de Villiers’.

Kohli is the Ronaldo of cricket, but cricket does not have a Messi.
Click to expand...

Both being freakishly talented is exactly why
 
Ronaldo is a machine, but Messi is a freak of nature.

I think the CR7 comparison is apt. But there is no Messi is cricket, what that guy can do on the football pitch sometimes makes me gasp in wonder. Kohli never did that to me, but I am certainly in awe of his jaw-dropping consistency, much like CR7's.
 
Yes, it can be said that Kohli is the Ronaldo of cricket. Both talented enough but it is the hard work and dedication they have in their respective field which makes them legends of their respective game.
 
Sachin in the 90s would be the closest thing to a cricketing Messi. An unassuming uber-talented teenager (groomed from a very young age) that absolutely manhandled teams in his prime.

Kohli is definitely cricket's Cristiano Ronaldo.
 
And who'll be Maradona of cricket?

Shane Warne, anyone?
 
He sure is when you compare their overall work ethic whether it be their strict diet regimes, practice routines and fitness levels. Both superstars and the most marketable athletes in their respective sports.
 
There is simply no cricketing equivalent of Leo Messi.

ABD is more similar to a Ronaldinho/Neymar than Messi.
 
kingusama92 said:
Sachin in the 90s would be the closest thing to a cricketing Messi. An unassuming uber-talented teenager (groomed from a very young age) that absolutely manhandled teams in his prime.

Kohli is definitely cricket's Cristiano Ronaldo.
Click to expand...
Good point.

Tendulkar was a child prodigy who just wasn’t as good as Viv Richards, whose Test Team were undisputed World champions 1976-1995.

And Messi was a child prodigy who just wasn’t as good as Diego Maradona, who won the 1986 World Cup.

Brilliant comparison!
 
Kohli has surpassed even the top Western elite players with just his fitness, work ethic alone. The guy eats, sleeps Cricket while still enjoying the celebrity lifestyle which is incredibly remarkable because it is only natural for one's hunger, drive to stagnate after their bank balance gets to a certain amount but his just keeps getting hungrier and hungrier for records, success
 
Well comparison makes sense to certain extent but in reality no cricketer can come close to Football top stars who are at another level when it comes to professionalism, competition and just over all as a sport.

In football remember its 11v11 on very equal field you dont get easy goals just because you are playing at home etc thats why its a number 1 sport in the world and the best footballers are on different level compared to relatively minor sport such as cricket.
 
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He will become India's greatest captain if he wins in aus and sa (next tour). The runs count but he should understand it is not possible for him to score all alone all the time. Cleansing of team should begin asap else his efforts will go down the drain
 
Junaids said:
Good point.

Tendulkar was a child prodigy who just wasn’t as good as Viv Richards, whose Test Team were undisputed World champions 1976-1995.

And Messi was a child prodigy who just wasn’t as good as Diego Maradona, who won the 1986 World Cup.

Brilliant comparison!
Click to expand...

The West Indies Team were not one man team as Sachin's India was in 90s. The West Indies team had 11 match winners hence were the undisputed team.

Sachin single handedly led the team through his batting, look at his world cup records. He is the closest cricket will have for Messi.
 
I wonder what prevents the other 10 players in the Indian team from emulating Kohli given that they see him in action in practice and on the field and in the gym every day. Surely that whole background work rubs on quite a lot of people eventually
 
Messi, Ronaldo cant do anything in World Cup where oposition is much superior.

They are however good at beating up weak opposition in league games.

Pele and Brazil Ronaldo was on whole new level.
 
Mamoon said:
De Villiers was no Messi. Messi is the greatest ever and better than Ronaldo. The only point of comparison between the two is that both are freakishly talented, but Messi’s achievements pale over de Villiers’.

Kohli is the Ronaldo of cricket, but cricket does not have a Messi.
Click to expand...

Yeah Messi is good at beating up weak oppositions in La Liga. Give him to face even a moderate international team like Japan or Nigeria and he wont be able to do jack.

Kholi won a World Cup, avg like 60 in Cricket.

I would say Kholi is better than Messi.
 
Mamoon said:
De Villiers was no Messi. Messi is the greatest ever and better than Ronaldo. The only point of comparison between the two is that both are freakishly talented, but Messi’s achievements pale over de Villiers’.

Kohli is the Ronaldo of cricket, but cricket does not have a Messi.
Click to expand...

Messi for me is not the greatest ever. I don't know where you get that from?? One of the greatest yes.....Ronaldo for me is definitely the better footballer. The guy is a machine. If aliens ever designed the perfect footballer it would be Ronaldo. He has everything pace strength - height- flair-passing- shooting-aggression- finishing- can drive a whole team forward and can also defend. I'll give you that Messi was more talented. But never have I seen a footballer with the desire and hunger and passion all rolled into one of Ronaldo. Ronaldo is the footballer that will be more valuable to any team than Messi.

Now if you are talking of most talented footballer of all time for me that's Zidane had a 360 game and it was impossible to take the ball off him as he could go in every direction not just forward like Messi.
 
Hasan123 said:
Fair compairson. Similar type of personalities as well.
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Ronaldo is nowhere near as hard working on the field of play as Kohli is. While playing for Real under Jose , Ronaldo was against tracking back to the extent he and others faked an injury. I've seen Kohli throw himself around in fielding on the boundary even as captain.

In terms of greatness, Kohli is a mile behind Ronaldo. Kohli nowhere near a great in test cricket, the real format while Ronaldo is one of the greatest of all time. Different sports sure but both are not alike apart from training, which the OP has pointed out.
 
KingKhanWC said:
Kohli nowhere near a great in test cricket,
Click to expand...

In long history of cricket,

Only 7 Asian batsmen have more tons than Kohli.

Only 3 Asian batsmen have more tons than Kohli outside Asia.

All that in less than 75 tests with career average of around 55.
 
freelance_cricketer said:
The real question who is Cricket’s Emile Heskey?
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Heskey was an important part of our treble season of 2000-01. I'll never forget his magnificent performance against Roma during Gerard Houllier's first match back after his heart attack and how he terrorised a brilliant Roma team.

Then he faded and often was shunted out wide where he would never be as effective, and became a comedy punchline.
 
KingKhanWC said:
Ronaldo is nowhere near as hard working on the field of play as Kohli is. While playing for Real under Jose , Ronaldo was against tracking back to the extent he and others faked an injury. I've seen Kohli throw himself around in fielding on the boundary even as captain.

In terms of greatness, Kohli is a mile behind Ronaldo. Kohli nowhere near a great in test cricket, the real format while Ronaldo is one of the greatest of all time. Different sports sure but both are not alike apart from training, which the OP has pointed out.
Click to expand...


Ronaldo doesn't need to track back when he is so good in the final 3rd. You know nothing about Ronaldo if you don't know how hard he worked when he was younger to improve. Ronaldo is kicked game in and game out and still carries on.

Kohli will finish as a test match great. Fact.
 
Hasan123 said:
Ronaldo doesn't need to track back when he is so good in the final 3rd. You know nothing about Ronaldo if you don't know how hard he worked when he was younger to improve. Ronaldo is kicked game in and game out and still carries on.

Kohli will finish as a test match great. Fact.
Click to expand...

Ronaldo has to do what the manager tells him , not what you or he thinks he should. Why do you think he fell out with Jose? I've watched him play for a decade, he used to defend but in the last 5 years doesnt work has hard as many footballers on the field of play.

The future cannot be fact but we all have our opinions of now.
 
KingKhanWC said:
Ronaldo has to do what the manager tells him , not what you or he thinks he should. Why do you think he fell out with Jose? I've watched him play for a decade, he used to defend but in the last 5 years doesnt work has hard as many footballers on the field of play.

The future cannot be fact but we all have our opinions of now.
Click to expand...


Ronaldo doesn't have the pace and legs to play on the wings anymore. He is a brilliant goal poacher and has unreal movement so he has been moved to a number 9 to conserve his energy and to play to his strengths.

Your opinion is due to his nationality. How can a player who had dominated series in Australia,South Africa, and England before the age of 30 not be destined to finish as a great ? :)))
 
Hasan123 said:
Ronaldo doesn't have the pace and legs to play on the wings anymore. He is a brilliant goal poacher and has unreal movement so he has been moved to a number 9 to conserve his energy and to play to his strengths.

Your opinion is due to his nationality. How can a player who had dominated series in Australia,South Africa, and England before the age of 30 not be destined to finish as a great ? :)))
Click to expand...

lol. Not sure you even watch footbal? Are you sure you're not getting confused with the Brazilian Ronaldo playing with kids? Ronaldo clocked the fastest speed in this summer in the World Cup. He was tested scientifically and was told he has the body of a 23 year old, with a fat content of 7% and a muscle mass at 50% beating almost all other footballers. Jose knew what he is capable of and so do people who understand football but he was too lazy to track back.

Kohli has an average of 35 in England. There have been great batsmen before him and many more will come after him with better averages in test cricket. Ronaldo is a freak of nature, nothing like him before. The comparison is not even close in many ways.
 
KingKhanWC said:
lol. Not sure you even watch footbal? Are you sure you're not getting confused with the Brazilian Ronaldo playing with kids? Ronaldo clocked the fastest speed in this summer in the World Cup. He was tested scientifically and was told he has the body of a 23 year old, with a fat content of 7% and a muscle mass at 50% beating almost all other footballers. Jose knew what he is capable of and so do people who understand football but he was too lazy to track back.

Kohli has an average of 35 in England. There have been great batsmen before him and many more will come after him with better averages in test cricket. Ronaldo is a freak of nature, nothing like him before. The comparison is not even close in many ways.
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He clocked the fastest speed but he isn't a flying winger anymore. He is best served in the box. Why would you want Ronaldo helping the left back out if he is so fast then:))) ?

He is used as a centre forward at Juventus and not needed to track back . So if his manager doesn't think he should track back don't get why someone on a internet forum thinks he should .

Because of 1 bad series in England. Every great player has one blot on there record . Ponting and Lara had issues in India I'm sure you don't hold that against them.
 
KingKhanWC said:
lol. Not sure you even watch footbal? Are you sure you're not getting confused with the Brazilian Ronaldo playing with kids? Ronaldo clocked the fastest speed in this summer in the World Cup. He was tested scientifically and was told he has the body of a 23 year old, with a fat content of 7% and a muscle mass at 50% beating almost all other footballers. Jose knew what he is capable of and so do people who understand football but he was too lazy to track back.

Kohli has an average of 35 in England. There have been great batsmen before him and many more will come after him with better averages in test cricket. Ronaldo is a freak of nature, nothing like him before. The comparison is not even close in many ways.
Click to expand...

That Fat Brazillian Ronaldo scored goals for fun in WCs. Messi Ronaldo good for beating up weak opponents in league games.

messi cant even cant even do jack against a Chilean team, while Ronaldo almost lost to Iran.
 
Hasan123 said:
He clocked the fastest speed but he isn't a flying winger anymore. He is best served in the box. Why would you want Ronaldo helping the left back out if he is so fast then:))) ?

He is used as a centre forward at Juventus and not needed to track back . So if his manager doesn't think he should track back don't get why someone on a internet forum thinks he should .

Because of 1 bad series in England. Every great player has one blot on there record . Ponting and Lara had issues in India I'm sure you don't hold that against them.
Click to expand...

lol. I dont want to, his manager did. You do realise it's up to the manager how a player plays and not you? You claimed he doesn't have the pace but he does in any position. If you did watch football, you'd know in the last game against Man Utd he was playing a lot on the wing.

Kohli will most likely play another series in England. If he can bring his average up above 45 then I will rate him as one of the all time great test players. A 35 average over so many matches in England , against an ok England attack isn't very good imo. This is my opinion, you can have yours, nothing to get stressed over. :)

Btw for a Pak fan to have an Indian player as his avatar is a bit lame lol. Support your own. :)
 
BDfanforever said:
That Fat Brazillian Ronaldo scored goals for fun in WCs. Messi Ronaldo good for beating up weak opponents in league games.

messi cant even cant even do jack against a Chilean team, while Ronaldo almost lost to Iran.
Click to expand...

I was joking with the poster, of course Brazilian Ronaldo was a great player, ive seen him live.

Messi and Ronaldo haven't scored a goal in the knockout stages of the World Cup. Cant recall but has Kohli scored hundreds in the semis or final of the WC?
 
KingKhanWC said:
lol. I dont want to, his manager did. You do realise it's up to the manager how a player plays and not you? You claimed he doesn't have the pace but he does in any position. If you did watch football, you'd know in the last game against Man Utd he was playing a lot on the wing.

Kohli will most likely play another series in England. If he can bring his average up above 45 then I will rate him as one of the all time great test players. A 35 average over so many matches in England , against an ok England attack isn't very good imo. This is my opinion, you can have yours, nothing to get stressed over. :)

Btw for a Pak fan to have an Indian player as his avatar is a bit lame lol. Support your own. :)
Click to expand...


I watched the 2nd half of the game . He might gone onto the wing but he is starting as a central striker. That's his position now.

Cricket is gentleman's game. I am a fan of the game just as much as I am of Pakistan. We are free to like who we want and dislike who we want . It's not a big issue.

Also I wouldn't be on here for hours and during games if I didn't support the team as much as you think . :)
 
Hasan123 said:
I watched the 2nd half of the game . He might gone onto the wing but he is starting as a central striker. That's his position now.

Cricket is gentleman's game. I am a fan of the game just as much as I am of Pakistan. We are free to like who we want and dislike who we want . It's not a big issue.

Also I wouldn't be on here for hours and during games if I didn't support the team as much as you think . :)
Click to expand...

He was on the wing because he has the pace.

Sure, it's your choice. :)

waleed88 said:
Virat is both Ronaldo and Messi of Cricket...
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lol. Messi is argued as GOAT in the most competitive and popular sport on the planet. Is Kohli the GOAT in cricket?
 
KingKhanWC said:
He was on the wing because he has the pace.

Sure, it's your choice. :)



lol. Messi is argued as GOAT in the most competitive and popular sport on the planet. Is Kohli the GOAT in cricket?
Click to expand...

At the rate he's going, he just might be..

Messi was in his prime and people still argued he was indeed the greatest ever...
 
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I’d argue that in football:

GOAT level
Di Stefano
Maradona
Pele

ATG level
Cruyff
Best
Beckenbauer
Messi
Garrincha

Magnificent player level
Charlton
Platini
Zidane
Banks
Moore
Puskas
Eusebio
Leonidas

Comparisons with cricketers are pretty easy.

Bradman, Sobers and Marshall are the three in the highest category.

Warne, Trueman, Gilchrist, Barry Richards And Viv Richards are in the second level like Cruyff or Messi.

Tendulkar and De Villiers are in the third level, comparable to Zidane, Eusebio or Puskas.

Virat Kohli may well eventually sneak into that category if he improves in tests. But currently he’s down in the fourth band with the two Ronaldos.
 
KingKhanWC said:
lol. Messi is argued as GOAT in the most competitive and popular sport on the planet. Is Kohli the GOAT in cricket?
Click to expand...

Kohli is the greatest T20I player in history, and on course to being the greatest ODI batsman. On top of that he has cemented his position as a test great. No cricketer has done as well as Kohli taking account all 3 formats of the game.
 
Junaids said:
I’d argue that in football:

GOAT level
Di Stefano
Maradona
Pele

ATG level
Cruyff
Best
Beckenbauer
Messi
Garrincha

Magnificent player level
Charlton
Platini
Zidane
Banks
Moore
Puskas
Eusebio
Leonidas

Comparisons with cricketers are pretty easy.

Bradman, Sobers and Marshall are the three in the highest category.

Warne, Trueman, Gilchrist, Barry Richards And Viv Richards are in the second level like Cruyff or Messi.

Tendulkar and De Villiers are in the third level, comparable to Zidane, Eusebio or Puskas.

Virat Kohli may well eventually sneak into that category if he improves in tests. But currently he’s down in the fourth band with the two Ronaldos.
Click to expand...

So Ronaldo is around the 20th best footballer ever? Good to know that your opinions on football are as absurd as yours about cricket.
 
Sachin136 said:
So Ronaldo is around the 20th best footballer ever? Good to know that your opinions on football are as absurd as yours about cricket.
Click to expand...
No.

There’s no way that this Ronaldo is in the Top 20 of all time. He’s not even the best footballer called Ronaldo.

Look at how Godin and Gimenez prevented him from having a single touch in the Uruguay box in the World Cup knockout stage.

Off the top of my head, Ronaldo is clearly inferior to the 16 players I listed above, plus Yashin, Buffon, Netzer, Breitner, Gerd Muller, Didi, Maldini, Cannavaro, Zico and various others.

I reckon the previous Ronaldo sneaks into the Top 20, and this one into the Top 40.
 
Sachin136 said:
Kohli is the greatest T20I player in history, and on course to being the greatest ODI batsman. On top of that he has cemented his position as a test great. No cricketer has done as well as Kohli taking account all 3 formats of the game.
Click to expand...

T20 wasnt around when Viv was playing. Imo Viv is still ahead of him the other formats.
 
Junaids said:
Good point.

Tendulkar was a child prodigy who just wasn’t as good as Viv Richards, whose Test Team were undisputed World champions 1976-1995.

And Messi was a child prodigy who just wasn’t as good as Diego Maradona, who won the 1986 World Cup.

Brilliant comparison!
Click to expand...

"Closest"

I said Tendulkar is the "closest" thing to a cricketing Messi. Not an identical match.

Richards is a tough one. His personality and development don't match with Messi. Viv was more outgoing, brash, and didn't grow as a child prodigy (debuted at 22). This weakens the comparison.
 
Work ethic and drive definitely, both aren't the most talented either but have reached top tier levels.

Personally think Kohli is better, but the similarities are definitely there.

I don't think there is one for Messi, AB is about there with his natural talent but I'd say Messi is even above him with his consistency and how effortless he makes everything look.

Junaids said:
I’d argue that in football:

GOAT level
Di Stefano
Maradona
Pele

ATG level
Cruyff
Best
Beckenbauer
Messi
Garrincha

Magnificent player level
Charlton
Platini
Zidane
Banks
Moore
Puskas
Eusebio
Leonidas

Comparisons with cricketers are pretty easy.

Bradman, Sobers and Marshall are the three in the highest category.

Warne, Trueman, Gilchrist, Barry Richards And Viv Richards are in the second level like Cruyff or Messi.

Tendulkar and De Villiers are in the third level, comparable to Zidane, Eusebio or Puskas.

Virat Kohli may well eventually sneak into that category if he improves in tests. But currently he’s down in the fourth band with the two Ronaldos.
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You tend to rate past players a lot more than the new generation, I'll take it as a compliment that you have Messi that high :messi
 
kingusama92 said:
"Closest"

I said Tendulkar is the "closest" thing to a cricketing Messi. Not an identical match.

Richards is a tough one. His personality and development don't match with Messi. Viv was more outgoing, brash, and didn't grow as a child prodigy (debuted at 22). This weakens the comparison.
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Messi is the Jordan of our generation. I wake up early in the morning to watch him while I still can. I don't think there is a real cricket equivalent for Messi, never saw Tendulkar in the 90s but AB is someone who makes it look effortless, still don't think he's as good as Messi or as consistent.

Messi has become the most complete player ever the last few years, having to control, create and score for Barca with Xavi gone and Iniesta in decline/leaving. He is the system now.
 
Aman said:
Messi is the Jordan of our generation. I wake up early in the morning to watch him while I still can. I don't think there is a real cricket equivalent for Messi, never saw Tendulkar in the 90s but AB is someone who makes it look effortless, still don't think he's as good as Messi or as consistent.

Messi has become the most complete player ever the last few years, having to control, create and score for Barca with Xavi gone and Iniesta in decline/leaving. He is the system now.
Click to expand...

As I have explained, put even a mediocre international team like Chile, Nigeria, Japan, etc Messi won't be able to do jack. Mbappe in that respect is way better than Messi. He single handedly won France the world cup this year.

All these over rated players, in the league plays with the best players in the world. Messi teammates were Neymar, Suarez, Iniestia, etc. Ronaldo played with Bale, Ramos, Modric, etc.
 
BDfanforever said:
As I have explained, put even a mediocre international team like Chile, Nigeria, Japan, etc Messi won't be able to do jack. Mbappe in that respect is way better than Messi. He single handedly won France the world cup this year.

All these over rated players, in the league plays with the best players in the world. Messi teammates were Neymar, Suarez, Iniestia, etc. Ronaldo played with Bale, Ramos, Modric, etc.
Click to expand...

Mbappe was great but he didn’t singlehandedly win the World Cup. His team was brilliant and they all contributed. Varane and Umtiti, Pogba and Kante and Griezman all were key players. Don’t get me wrong Mbappe performed on the big occasion but having a team like that certainly helps.
 
mastersaan10 said:
Yes, love them both. Both are also great guys off the pitch as well. Only thing I don't like is Kohli's celebration after each wicket, aggression is good but cursing is not. Otherwise yeah Ronaldo comparison is good.
Click to expand...

Bhai woh dilli ka launda hai.... u hve or had any friends from delhi? They talk less and swear more.
 
The Viper said:
Mbappe was great but he didn’t singlehandedly win the World Cup. His team was brilliant and they all contributed. Varane and Umtiti, Pogba and Kante and Griezman all were key players. Don’t get me wrong Mbappe performed on the big occasion but having a team like that certainly helps.
Click to expand...
4 international finals = doing nothing for their country.

Some people don't have a clue how difficult it is just to make a Final.

Messi has 3 assists in WC KO games, 2 of which came against eventual winners France this year.
 
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