There is no doubt that Messi is a better finisher, but is Ronaldo a better goalscorer? Although both players are able to score goals, Ronaldo has greater accuracy. While the former is better at scoring from long range, Messi is more accurate from short distance. However, the former has become a myth in recent years, despite his greater long-range ability. In fact, Ronaldo has scored five free kicks to Messi’s 18 between 2009-11 and 2017.
Ronaldo is faster
In an article for the Economist, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi faced off in a race for the highest speed. Ronaldo scored ten goals, Messi just three, and Messi finished with five. The Economist’s formula rates goals according to their added win probability, EPA. A winning goal in the last minute of a game is worth a lot more than a fourth-placed goal in a 4-0 victory. Cristiano Ronaldo has an EPA of 118, while Messi’s is at just 57.
Compared to Messi, Ronaldo has more pace and is a better goalscorer and finisher. Ronaldo has better finishing and goalscoring ability, and his footwork is impeccable. Messi has a reputation for making defenders miss, while Ronaldo’s isn’t quite as good. Messi’s passing is decent, but not legendary.
Both Ronaldo and Messi are great players, but Messi is the more versatile playmaker. The Argentine is a gifted playmaker, able to keep the ball with his team and send teammates on dangerous runs. Cristiano has a more balanced game, but Messi is faster and more explosive. Cristiano is the best player in his position, and he’s one of the world’s best players.
In the career goal average, Messi is faster. Ronaldo scored 61 goals in 2014-15, whereas Messi hit a career high of 73 in 2011-12. Despite having the edge in goals scored per game, Messi scored more free kicks and is the fastest in the world. In terms of assists, Messi has the advantage. Messi is a better overall scorer and assists more than Ronaldo.
If the Argentine is ranked number one, Ronaldo is the better player overall. He has the edge in major awards, including the Champions League. Cristiano Ronaldo has won the Champions League five times, while Messi has won two of them with Barcelona. Ronaldo has three Euros and four Champions Leagues, and he has won the UEFA Nations League twice.
Ronaldo is more agile
If you’re trying to decide whether or not Cristiano Ronaldo is faster than Lionel Messi, you’ll have to decide between the two players’ agility levels. Both of these players are explosive, but Messi is more agile and nimble, which allows him to perform a variety of different moves. While Ronaldo has superior speed and strength, Messi’s agility and flair make him the better option for attacking and defending.
While some fans believe that the Brazilian’s agility is superior, this is not necessarily true. A lack of referee protection can prevent players from using their full athleticism, as he can’t cover the long distances that Nazario used to. Instead, Ronaldo’s mobility means he can keep the ball longer and dribble it with greater accuracy. This is a key characteristic for a top-class player.
While he’s 34 years old, Cristiano Ronaldo still possesses an incredible amount of agility. In training, the Portuguese star displayed silky dribbling skills, as he was part of an intimidating drill in which he jinks in and out of balls fired at him. He also sidestepped a series of obstacles, including a goal-saving header last year. His agility are impressive, but they’re not the reason he won the Puskas Award in 2009.
Despite his age, Ronaldo has had a tough season in the first part of the season. But he continued to work hard, and in late January, he appeared to have hit his top speed. His acceleration has continued to improve as the season has wound down, and he has scored some crucial goals in the final few months of the season. However, it’s the mentality that really matters. This is a crucial aspect of success, and Ronaldo has that in spades.
Ronaldo is a better goalscorer
Statistically speaking, Ronaldo is a better goalscorer than Messi in both domestic and international competitions. While the former started his career as a forward, he has played more deep in the midfield and has surpassed the 50-goal mark every season since 2010-11. As a wing-midfielder before joining PSG, Messi was a CF/False 9 in his prime.
While the two players are comparable in terms of scoring goals, Ronaldo has the edge on finishing and passing the ball. He has more accuracy and has nutmegged thousands of defenders in the past. Regardless of where the ball is headed, he has the ability to play any pass and make it count, even if it is a poor one. This helps him make more accurate passes and scores more goals than his rival.
Compared to Messi, Ronaldo has superior assists and is arguably the greatest goalscorer in history. While Messi has more titles, Ronaldo has played in more prestigious competitions and has been an outstanding player for both Real Madrid and Manchester United. Despite Ronaldo’s unrivaled scoring ability, he has been criticized for not deserving of the Ballon d’Or award.
While Messi has the better goal-per-game ratio, Ronaldo is a more efficient finisher. While the former was more accurate with his long shots, he has superior accuracy from all other areas. Although Ronaldo has more chances than Messi, he was less accurate in his free-kick attempts. Messi scored 21 free kicks compared to Ronaldo’s three from 2009-11. However, Ronaldo scored only five direct free kicks between 2017-19 while Messi had 18.
In terms of overall quality, Ronaldo is a better goalscorer than Messi. His 42 Premier League goals and five Ballon d’Ors are a testament to his talent and desire to excel. His impressive record has surpassed all expectations. Moreover, Sir Alex Ferguson, his manager, had no doubt that he would face bidding wars for Ronaldo.
Ronaldo is a better finisher
When it comes to goalscoring and finishing, a comparison between Ronaldo and Messi is inevitable. While Ronaldo has scored more goals overall, Messi has the best average season return, with 73 goals in 2011-12. Ronaldo’s highest season return is 61, and he has scored over 50 goals in six consecutive seasons from 2010-11 to 2015-16. Both players have been called the greatest goalscorer of their generation, but they both have varying degrees of success.
Both players can score from long range, but Messi’s shot accuracy is superior. Neither player can consistently score from long range, while Ronaldo’s range is more extensive. Neither player is a great free-kick taker, and Ronaldo has become somewhat of a myth over the past few years. In 2009-11, Ronaldo took 21 direct free-kicks, compared to Messi’s three. In 2017-19, Ronaldo scored just five, while Messi took 18.
While Messi scored more goals last season, Ronaldo has more assists. Neither player has as many goals as Messi, but Ronaldo is a more consistent goalscorer. His career goal ratio is better, and his assists are much higher. Although Messi has won more awards than Ronaldo, the former Real Madrid player has a better goal-scoring ratio overall. For this reason, it’s difficult to decide who should be named GOAT.
The ‘world’s best’ debate has raged for the past decade. Both Messi and Ronaldo are historic players, but there are many other factors to consider. The first is the ‘creative’ dimension. Messi has more skills than his rival and plays in a different dimension. It also has more flair than the other. In short, Messi plays in another dimension.
Real Madrid and Barcelona have ended their rivalry, but they still compare their records every season. Ronaldo scored 24 goals in all competitions while Messi scored 11 in all competitions. Against Man City, Messi opened his account with a trademark goal. On October 10 he added two more in a 3-2 Champions League win over Leipzig. The rivalry is not over yet, but the record-setting season for both players is impressive.