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The Messi–Ronaldo rivalry is a perceived association football rivalry between Argentine forward Lionel Messi and Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo, both of whom are widely regarded as legends in the sport at a young age, having won a combined seven FIFA Ballon d’Or awards. Both players have scored in two UEFA Champions League finals, have regularly broken the 50 goal barrier in a single season, and have scored over 400 goals in their career for club and country.
Sports journalists and pundits regularly argue the individual merits of both players in an attempt to argue who they believe is the best player in modern football. It has been compared to legendary global sports rivalries such as the Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier rivalry in boxing which culminated with the Thrilla in Manila, the Björn Borg–John McEnroe rivalry in tennis, and the Ayrton Senna–Alain Prost rivalry in Formula One.
This debate is the most controversial and never dying debate in this generation. Controversial in the sense that most people believes that whoever wins the Ballon d’Or is the better player while some will argue that individual achievements makes the player with the highest achievement the better player, some will take sides because of the club they support or because of the hatred they have for another club.
Even though most people base their judgement on personal achievement and remain unshaken on their take as to who is better, this argument will go on and on just like the Pele vs Maradona argument.
Over the years it was all Pele vs Maradona then all of a sudden the whole thing changed. This debate I believe started in 2007 when Ronaldo was placed third behind Messi when most people felt Ronaldo should have atleast been the second. Subsequently, the better player at that point in time went ahead to win it the following year, 2008 which was the beginning of the serious and never ending feud. From 2008 till date, this two world class players have colonized the Balon D’Or award making it practically impossible for anyone to come close to winning it. While Messi has since won four which came back to back, Ronaldo has won three in 2008, 2013 and 2014. Now I ask myself, is the award not meant to be called “Lionel Ronaldo’s” Award?
In the wake of Ronaldo winning the Ballon D’or award in 2013 and 2014, fans of Messi have come out to say the world player of the year award should not be based on personal glory rather, on the player’s contribution to the team. Ronaldo’s fan have also debunked this claim saying the world decided not FIFA. It is no longer a farce that the Ballon D’or Award has been basically based on who scores the highest number of Goals in total, who scored the highest number of goals in Uefa Champions League, sometimes by who won most trophy that season and who the voters think is better. At this juncture I asked another question, are this basis good enough to decide the best players?
The debate that seems to have died down got a wakeup call when Messi inspired a Luis Enrique led Barcelona team to a 3-0 first leg UCL semi-final win over a Pep Guardiola led Bayern Munich. Messi clearly won my heart with his second goal against Bayern when he embarrassed Jerome Boateng and Scored freely without stress. This performance of his made the world noisy again as people concluded again that Messi is the best and better of the two claiming Messi is a natural talent while Ronaldo is a result of hardwork in training. Regardless of their claims, they are both champions who have on several occasions saved their teams from defeat or drawing a match. Messi embarrassed Boateng to Score while Ronaldo once embarrassed Ashley Cole but didn’t score, does that means Messi is better?
If we go on and on and check the honours and titles they have won between themselves and records they have broken, you will find out that neither is better. Yes it could be obvious that Messi looks more natural compare to Ronaldo but if we have to face it and judge base on the natural and hard work you might be tempted to give Ronaldo all your praises because he has enormously tried. Messi to me is the king of football because he was born to be the King but Ronaldo can be said to be unfortunate to be born in this generation.
Jose Mourinho has recently come out to say “any top 4 team in England will win the EPL with Messi in their team” and the same Mourinho saw Ronaldo as the world best while he was his manager at Madrid. Is this not enough reason to tell you that both are the best players in their generation and people should stop arguing and leave them to enjoy their soccer? While Ronaldo became the first EPL player to win the Ballon d’Or, Messi is the first and only player to win the Ballon d’Or award four consecutive times.
Both have their qualities, strengths, weaknesses, ups and downs but both have continuously delivered and performed to their very best. Whether we argue or not, it won’t change their style or salary or achievements rather, it will only make the football world monopolised and not encouraging for the likes of Hazard and Neymar who receives little praise from the public and media.
You might still think Messi or Ronaldo is better but let me assure you that, there will be days you will feel indifferent about either’s performance and there are days you will feel absolutely wowed by either’s performance. But the question remains, is anyone better or are they kings in their different zones?
What do you think?
By Abayomi Ashiru
