This debate continues, but a couple of things stand out. Ronaldo is quicker, has a superior physique, and can score with both his head and feet. While Messi is more accurate with his free-kicks and long-range kicking, both players have a tremendous passion for the game. The final score shows just how close this two-way battle is. Let’s take a closer look at the main factors that help determine who is the superior player.
Ronaldo is a faster striker
The World Cup final between Ronaldo and Lionel Messi is the ultimate example of how a striker’s speed can determine their game. Ronaldo has the fastest top speed of any player in history and is the highest goalscorer in Champions League history. Ronaldo has also scored more goals in international football than Messi. He has completed a 100-meter sprint in eleven seconds, according to Rodriguez.
Despite the blatant comparison, Cristiano Ronaldo is much faster in sprints. When he is sprinting, Ronaldo is among the fastest players in the world. His acceleration is also decent, but he’s more of a ‘fast runner’ than a ‘quick runner’. An opponent cannot catch Ronaldo when he’s sprinting in fourth gear. However, he can stop an opponent from catching him when he’s standing still.
While both strikers have the same number of goals scored, Messi’s goal ability is more consistent. Ronaldo has not yet surpassed the 30 goal mark in recent seasons. While Ronaldo shines in any team he plays for, Messi’s goal rate is truly remarkable. While the Brazilian has yet to break the 30 goal mark, he is already on his way. Cristiano Ronaldo is a faster striker than Messi
He scores with his head and feet
Juventus have a new top goal scorer, Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese has scored 23 goals in 23 Serie A appearances this season. His hat trick against Cagliari was one of his most impressive performances. He scored with his head, right foot, and left foot in just 33 minutes. The hat trick was similar to the one he scored against Espanyol last year, but this time, he scored with his feet and head.
Both Messi and Ronaldo have scored with their head and feet. Messi scores eight out of ten goals with his stronger foot. However, Cristiano scores more goals with his right foot. His right foot contributes to 63% of his goals, compared to only 13% of his goals. The other 18% of goals, which Ronaldo has scored, come from his left foot. Combined, Ronaldo has scored 127 goals with his head and feet.
In the final of the 2015 Serie A season, Ronaldo scored a goal with his head and feet, which put Juventus into the lead. His goal against Athletic Bilbao was an open play goal. Ronaldo scored with his head and feet in the final minutes. While the former Manchester United player has scores with his head and feet, Messi scored with his body. During the game, he jumped higher than the defender to score.
He has a superior physique
If you’re a football fan and wondering how to get the body of a football star, look no further than Ronaldo. While the Argentine is the perfect football player, his physique is the result of hard work, discipline, and healthy food choices. And like all other great athletes, Ronaldo also souleves regularly. While many footballers are content to spend hours at the gym, Ronaldo also works out after playing soccer.
When you consider that Ronaldo is now 26, his physique still remains remarkably young. Despite his age, his upper body is toned and rippling. Not only does he look good, but he also has the mental and physical strength to perform at a world-class level for many more years to come. That is a rare feat in football! It makes him stand out as a soccer star.
He has a greater free-kick and long-range kicking ability
Despite their different skill sets, Messi and Ronaldo share a similar number of goals. They are both renowned free-kick specialists. In fact, during the 2010-11 season, Messi became the all-time leader in free-kick goals at Barcelona, whereas Ronaldo was second with five goals. Nevertheless, Messi is not as consistent as his counterpart when it comes to converting free kicks.
Although both players are good at converting free-kicks, there are some major differences between their kicking abilities. Ronaldo’s conversion rate is better than Messi’s, with a rate of 6.5% in La Liga. Messi’s conversion rate is higher than Ronaldo’s, with a slightly higher accuracy and curve. But his shot power is lower than his counterpart’s, so he lacks some of the key attributes that help in converting free-kicks into goals.
Ronaldo scores from far more distances than Messi. Ronaldo’s free-kicks are better, but Messi’s are more accurate. The knuckleball technique favours power over accuracy and has been responsible for some of the most spectacular free-kick goals in recent years. Messi takes more free-kicks, but fewer of them.
He has scored more goals
Cristiano Ronaldo has reached 100 international goals and is closing in on Ali Daei’s record of 109. Messi has seventy goals for Argentina, but could surpass Ronaldo in club competition this season. The two players have scored in the Champions League on average of 40 goals a season. Ronaldo has won more UEFA Champions League titles, but Messi has scored more club goals than his Portuguese rival.
The Argentine is considered the greatest dribbler in the world, but his team is not quite as good as Ronaldo’s. Messi, however, has a magical touch that can make anyone go wild. He weaves through the defense of his team to dribble past the goalkeeper. He is the driving force of his team. And the goalkeeper can’t stop him.
Messi has played in six92 matches, but Ronaldo has played eight12 games. The Portuguese superstar has more goals, but Messi has more assists and key passes. Ronaldo has played more games than Messi, but Messi’s overall record is still superior in some respects. Messi has won more individual awards than Ronaldo, but Ronaldo has a superior goalscoring record. So, who is the better player?
He has played more seasons
Since joining Real Madrid in 2009, Cristiano Ronaldo has outscored Lionel Messi on a goal-per-game basis, with 406 goals to the Argentine’s 401. However, Messi has improved his overall goal-scoring ratio. Since joining Real Madrid, Ronaldo has averaged 1.03 goals per game, while Messi has been a centre-forward for the majority of his career. Since joining Real Madrid, Ronaldo has also raced ahead of Messi in the all-time European Cup scoring charts, although the latter broke Raul’s Champions League goals record this season.
The comparison between the two players is based on a variety of metrics. Both players have won Ballon d’Or awards, and Messi has won the FIFA World Player of the Year award. However, Ronaldo has won more trophies and titles. In 2019, he won a Copa America trophy for Argentina’s U23 team, the FIFA U20 World Cup trophy, the Finalissima trophy, and the UEFA/CONMEBOL Cup of Champions.
Both players have dominated their competition. Both teams played twice per season between 2009-2018. Real Madrid and Barcelona have faced each other a few times in other competitions as well. In 2011, Messi scored a hat-trick in the first leg and Ronaldo scored a goal in the second leg. In addition, Messi has played more seasons than Ronaldo, but he is arguably better overall.
He is a more complete player
If you compare Ronaldo and Messi, you’ll notice there are some striking similarities. Both are highly athletic, but Messi is smaller and lighter while Ronaldo is more powerful and robust. The physical differences account for the differences in their styles of play. Messi relies more on agility and ball control, while Ronaldo has more size. However, there are some striking differences between the two players. Here’s a look at the physical attributes that separate Messi and Ronaldo.
Messi is the reigning FIFA Ballon d’Or winner and helped Barcelona to win the Champions League and La Liga last season. Ronaldo is a more complete player, according to his Real Madrid teammates. He scored an incredible 41 goals last season and won the Marca’s Pichichi award. His teammate, Kaka, won the Ballon d’Or in 2007.
While Messi has the greater goal-per-game ratio, Ronaldo is more complete in other categories. While Messi holds the record for most Champions League appearances, Ronaldo has contributed to the most Champions League goals, surpassing Iker Casillas. In terms of world cup performance, Ronaldo has consistently outperformed Messi. However, it is difficult to determine which player is better compared to the other.