Both Messi and Ronaldo have put up absurd numbers throughout their respective careers. Both have remained at the top level well into their thirties. Messi has won the ballon d’or more than Ronaldo, and both have remained the best player in the world for well over a decade. Both players play different styles of soccer, so if you were to compare them you would probably find them to be very different.
Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are two of the greatest players of all time. But both players aren’t exactly consistent. Messi is arguably the most consistent of all with an average of 1.15 goals per game, while Ronaldo averages 0.945 goals per game. Unlike Ronaldo, Messi has a lower center of gravity and a more explosive first touch. His goal-scoring ability is also more consistent than his defensive play, as is demonstrated by his ability to find space on the ball and finish with a goal.
Ronaldo has had a rough patch throughout his career, but Messi hasn’t had that trouble as Ronaldo has. Ronaldo is currently having a bad patch in the early part of the season, but he’s still had a good season overall. Messi is a better passer and a more reliable crosser than Ronaldo. Whether that’s due to his natural talent or the coaching staff, it’s tough to say.
The two have been a top contender for the Ballon d’Or, the world’s most prestigious individual award. Players are selected by coaches of national teams, high-profile journalists, and other influential figures. Ronaldo was unable to prevent Messi from winning the Ballon d’Or, while Messi won seven of them between 2008 and 2021. Ronaldo won the award five times and Messi won six.
Ronaldo has a better goal-scoring record than Messi. In 2009, he scored two goals in the final, while Messi scored four in the same season. His total of 17 UEFA Champions League goals this season beats the previous record held by Raul in Argentina. However, Ronaldo’s international goal-scoring record still remains far behind Messi, who has already passed Gabriel Batistuta for top spot in the Argentina league.
Messi
When comparing the two most prolific goal scorers in history, the 2014-15 campaign of Cristiano Ronaldo is a compelling read. In 59 appearances, the Portuguese superstar scored 69 goals and provided 15 assists, making him the first player to reach the 60-goal mark in three consecutive seasons. Ronaldo, meanwhile, averaged a goal every 72 minutes, whereas Messi averaged a goal every 66 minutes. The UEFA Champions League top scorer award was his, and he was regarded as the best player in Europe.
While Messi may be the more prolific goal-scorer, Ronaldo has more consistent displays. His consistency is more evident in his dribbling, with both players regularly finding space and finishing runs with goals and assists. However, Ronaldo’s consistency suffers in his performance in big games, and he often misses out due to frustration from opposing defenders. The question remains: which player has been more consistent?
Messi is a prolific dribbler, leading the top five European leagues in successful dribbles for the last twelve years. He threads the ball between three defenders, locates teammates in tight spaces, and attempts crazy passes. Although he has had to give up his playmaker role to Luis Suarez, the Barcelona forward has been a consistent performer on the world stage.
Although Ronaldo has consistently scored goals during his career, Messi’s goals have been far fewer in recent years. Despite this, Messi has never suffered a major slump as Ronaldo has in the past 56 years. The fact that Ronaldo’s consistency is inconsistent and not as consistent as Messi’s suggests, however, does not diminish the quality of the Argentinian’s game. As his star rises in the Premier League, he is likely to continue to be the most prolific player in the world.
Real Madrid
The debate over whether Messi or Ronaldo has been more consistent for Real Madrid continues to rage, as both players have been impressive throughout their careers. Although Messi is a more physical specimen, he is equally as good when it comes to scoring goals. Ronaldo is the ultimate penalty-box poacher, and has been a mainstay for Real Madrid over the past five years. However, this is no reflection on his overall quality as a player.
The Spanish giants have consistently produced goals, despite the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo has won seven Spanish leagues and three English ones with Manchester United, while Messi has won two each with Real Madrid and Juventus. However, neither Messi nor Ronaldo have been consistent enough to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League without missing a single season. Ronaldo has scored 311 goals in 292 games in nine seasons for Real Madrid, while Messi has never scored more than 41 goals in a season. Together, these two players have scored more than 600 club goals.
Both have had their good times, but Real Madrid have also suffered in recent years. This has led to mounting pressure on the club to regain their glory days. With Ronaldo reportedly in the running for the club’s top prize, the Spanish giants could hardly afford to lose. The transfer of Ronaldo to Real Madrid for a world record fee could have been the missing link. The question then is, which player is more consistent for Real Madrid?
If Real Madrid is to win the Champions League, the best player will have the most consistency. Cristiano is a better overall player and has more consistency in scoring goals. Both have been remarkably consistent for Real Madrid, and Messi is more consistent in attacking. Neither player has ever been better than the other, but they have played well in many different competitions. The goal difference between the two is significant.
Barcelona
Among the top players in the world, only Ronaldo and Messi have a perfect record for Barcelona. While Messi and Ronaldo are the most famous names in the world, other players have contributed to the success of Barca. Dani Alves, for example, was one of the best defensive midfielders in the world during his time with Manchester United, but he was a fringe player before he joined Barcelona. In addition to Messi and Ronaldo, Barcelona have been very well-balanced this decade thanks to players like Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, and Luka Modric, who all play crucial roles.
However, Messi is the best player in the world, but he is often criticised for being too reliant on Barcelona. Despite the critics who accuse Barcelona of being too reliant on Messi, the Argentine has continued to break records, win individual awards, and lift trophies. Recently, Xavi claimed that Messi was the best player in the world and that the club owed its success to his consistency.
While Messi has been a star in the past, Ronaldo has failed to replicate his Real Madrid numbers for Juventus. In 2009-10, the former Manchester United star was injured for six weeks, and only played 35 games. While the latter was the top scorer in the La Liga and UEFA Champions League, Messi won the European Golden Shoe and the Ballon d’Or. Combined, these two players have won the La Liga title three times and dominated the scoring charts for their respective clubs.
Both Messi and Ronaldo have had their ups and downs, but Messi has had no such rough patch in the last 56 years. Moreover, Ronaldo is currently having a terrible patch – though his early season is still relatively new. But despite the lack of consistency, neither has a better chance of winning the domestic double than Ronaldo. It’s all about consistency – and consistency will determine a player’s success.
Manchester United
Cristiano Ronaldo has been great for Manchester United this season but that doesn’t mean he is a perfect player. There have been several issues with the team’s defence and they have been inconsistent overall. However, Ronaldo’s goal record has made up for his lack of defensive contribution and his lack of consistency. When he has been in sight of the goal, Ronaldo always delivers. Messi has also been injured recently, which doesn’t bode well for his game at Old Trafford.
There are many reasons why a team may not have been able to keep Ronaldo at the club for a long time. Manchester United’s players are overpaid and they need someone to work with them. For example, Paul Pogba needs a partner who is as hard-working as he is. In the attacking midfield, he performs best with a three or four-player midfield.
In the final third of the table, Manchester United must improve their defending, as Messi or Ronaldo have consistently been better at this than either player. They will be more successful if they can get the ball to Ronaldo quicker, which will increase their chances of scoring. They are also less vulnerable to quick counter-attacks and this can be a problem for Manchester United. But that is just one factor.
Having a talisman is essential for a team. While Ronaldo is a star, he cannot protect the United backline without a teammate. The best football is a combination of talent and teamwork. Manchester United need a talisman to lead the team to success. The second striker can fill this role. But Edinson Cavani, who is 36, is an injury prone player and in the last year of his contract with the club.
