POLL: Who Would You Prefer In Your Team: Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi?

[shoreno]

its the two of them on the image ? i dont know if who is messi and ronaldo on the pic but my first thought is the guy on the white shirt are too kind to help the other player or his oponent  but then after reading further your sentence i can read that both of them have respect or verry close to each other  so by that i think i now love them both   .

 that is if both of them are allowed to form a one team  however in terms of popularity im more familiar with lionel messi more than ronaldo but i think i have heard that name before  but only forgot it later on  .

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[JollyGood]

I'm a huge fan of Messi, and I strongly believe he's the greatest player of all time.

I think if Messi was a goalkeeper he would be a speck of dust in comparison to players such as Peter Shilton, Petr Čech, Peter Schmeichel, Oliver Kahn or even the somewhat diminutive for a goalkeeper Fabien Barthez.
Ronaldo has the physique to be a goalkeeper, much taller than Messi and more athletic.

Looking at great central defenders of their era such as Bobby Moore, Tony Adams, Alan Hansen, the great Paolo Maldini and even players such as Virgil Van Dijk or Rio Ferdinand - how can anybody say Messi could be compared to them? They were masters of their trade in their positions. Who would choose Messi in a left back position when they have better options such as the great Roberto Carlos and even players such as Ashley Cole and Dennis Irwin to name a few.

In the centre midfield, there were too many masters of their trade to simply allow Messi to walk in to the team. Even in the great Barcelona teams of 2009+ when Guardiola was manager, Xavi and Iniesta occupied those roles.

Playing Messi on the left wing or on the right wing makes sense, playing him in the middle behind a striker or as a sole striker does not. Who would choose Messi over Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima (the Brazilian great El Fenomeno)?

As for Ronaldo, if he was called upon to do it I am sure with his mental focus he would be able to play in literally any position if the manager asked him in an emergency including goal and no matter how bad he might play in those roles he would be better than Messi. That speaks volumes because Messi is definitely not the greatest player of all time, there is no one player that has played in all 11 positions on the football pitch to cement that title.

In a like-for-like position Diego Maradona (also a left footed player) was a greater player than Messi. What Maradona did for Argentina in both the Mexico 1986 and Italia 1990 FIFA World Cup competitions as well as for Napoli after his transfer from Barcelona was nothing short of miraculous. Even the legendary Pelé stated "Maradona was a much better player than Messi": https://en.as.com/en/2018/12/06/football/1544122661_793685.html

Saying any one player is the greatest in the position they play in might be a better way to debate it  

However, for this poll I chose Ronaldo. I'd rather have Ronaldo on my team for a few reasons, the first reason would be his motivation/hunger for success. Ronaldo is always a player that is motivated and a better leader than Lionel Messi, and he puts in more than the extra needed almost at all times, he's never satisfied with his achievements and he's always eager for more, I'm not saying that Messi doesn't putting enough efforts, but then I'm just saying Ronaldo puts in more efforts and zeal, that's why I would rather have him on my team.

I have seen very few players that have the mental ability to push themselves further and never be happy with what they achieve so much so they are always hungry for more success. For me, Ronaldo is the player I would want in my team over Messi. It cannot be overstated how great a player Messi is but I think he will not be winning any more Ballon d'Or where as even with his age at 35 Ronaldo seems to be on fire at Juventus.

Outside of the Barcelona team, Messi has not really won anything of substance including almost nothing important with the Argentina national team though he has won 6 Ballon d'Or with Ronaldo on 5 Ballon d'Or awards. Ronaldo has won the English, Spanish and Italian league titles - unbelievable. He also has won the European Champions League with an English (Manchester United 1 time) and a Spanish team (Real Madrid 4 times), now trying to win it with an Italian team (Juventus). He has also became a national team European champion when the Portugal national team won the UEFA European Cup.

I have never ever seen a player do things with a football in a way that the great Diego Maradona did but he is not the greatest footballer because it is impossible to compute as nobody has played in every position over a long length of time to evaluate. In my opinion Maradona was one of the greatest in the position he played in on the pitch.

[AakZaki]

I would choose Ronaldo, he's a versatile player, physically strong.  Evidently he has defended several different clubs and even often become the top scorer in the club behind him.

From the other side I am happy because Ronaldo is a generous person, caring for people in need.  He described a person who has a high social life.

[JollyGood]

14 votes in total

8 votes for Ronaldo
6 vote for Messi

[JollyGood]

Thankfully they played their careers around the same time so they pushed each other on to become better.

Both are fantastic players, living legends of the game.

Too difficult a question to answer, let me just say that we’re lucky to have seen both of their careers. They’re probably the two greatest players ever imo.

[Juggy777]

Thankfully they played their careers around the same time so they pushed each other on to become better.

Both are fantastic players, living legends of the game.

Too difficult a question to answer, let me just say that we’re lucky to have seen both of their careers. They’re probably the two greatest players ever imo.

@JollyGood both have acknowledged this in the past that without each other they wouldn’t have been able to push themselves to the peak, and Messi even said that El Classico has not been the same since Ronaldo left La Liga.

https://www.republicworld.com/sports-news/football-news/lionel-messi-claims-el-clasico-is-not-as-special-without-ronaldo.html

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2850620-cristiano-ronaldo-talks-lionel-messi-rivalry-he-makes-me-a-better-player

@LFC_Bitcoin indeed it’s very difficult to answer this as even sports experts have often failed to answer it, and yes I do consider myself lucky to be born in an era where these two played and redefined modern day football.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/385434-comparing-cronaldo9-with-lmessi10-is-unfair

https://tribuna.com/en/fcbarcelona/news/3574982/

[JollyGood]

I just found the el classico to be something of a damp squid. The few times I watched highlights of Real Madrid play I am expecting Ronaldo to get the ball and run down either flank, they are not the same team. I think they will miss him far more than they missed any so called galactico whether it be Zidane, Figo, Beckham, Carlos or the great Brazilian Ronaldo El Fenomeno because all those great players were part of a great team full of great players. It just shows how much Real Madrid needed and relied on Cristiano Ronaldo for the 9 years he was there. El classico is just not the same.

@JollyGood both have acknowledged this in the past that without each other they wouldn’t have been able to push themselves to the peak, and Messi even said that El Classico has not been the same since Ronaldo left La Liga.

[Teawhalee]

I would prefer Ronaldo in my team. Ronaldo has done so many impact in every team he plays  with or without stars . But Messi had his best season when xavi and iniesta we're still there . They did every lot of work and made things easy but now Messi does the work but things are hard. Ronaldo will always find a way to score and make his team to win . 

[seoincorporation]

I choose Cristiano Ronaldo because i like more the way he plays. He is more like a team player than Messi. But is a hard question, is like choosing between Coca and Pepsi, a lot of people will chose fanta or some other flavor than those two.

[JollyGood]

17 votes in total

9 votes for Ronaldo
8 vote for Messi

Keep the votes coming in because this is poll is very tight 

[LTU_btc]

I think most of us are biased in this thread. Some here (including me) are fans of Messi and Barcelona, other love Ronaldo. So, answer will based on what we like more.
It's difficult to choose, but I pick Messi. I think he just makes bigger difference on the pitch even without scoring goals.
On the other hand, Ronaldo is such amazing player, especially in his prime. Comparing with Messi, he is stronger physically and he can score headers. And I see that he change throughout the years. Instead of playing individually, he started to play more for the team, he started to dive less and show less arrogance. I think he changed as personality, become more

As for Ronaldo, if he was called upon to do it I am sure with his mental focus he would be able to play in literally any position if the manager asked him in an emergency including goal and no matter how bad he might play in those roles he would be better than Messi. That speaks volumes because Messi is definitely not the greatest player of all time, there is no one player that has played in all 11 positions on the football pitch to cement that title.

Well, it's not fact, just your opinion. I don't think that forward have to play as defender or goalkeeper to show that he is best.
And personally, I don't think that calling Messi, Ronaldo, Maradona or Pele as GOAT. First of all, football was very different 50 or 30 ago, compared to what we have now. I think it would be just unfair to compare these players. And finally, there will be no consent reached who is best, because every side will have their arguments.
And finally, I think it's unfair that players from other positions get less credit. How many goalkeepers or defenders have won Golden Ball? Is it fair that players like Buffon, Bobby Moore, Xavi, Iniesta, Maldini, Pirlo or Oliver Kahn have never won it?

[JollyGood]

As for Ronaldo, if he was called upon to do it I am sure with his mental focus he would be able to play in literally any position if the manager asked him in an emergency including goal and no matter how bad he might play in those roles he would be better than Messi. That speaks volumes because Messi is definitely not the greatest player of all time, there is no one player that has played in all 11 positions on the football pitch to cement that title.

Well, it's not fact, just your opinion. I don't think that forward have to play as defender or goalkeeper to show that he is best.
And personally, I don't think that calling Messi, Ronaldo, Maradona or Pele as GOAT. First of all, football was very different 50 or 30 ago, compared to what we have now. I think it would be just unfair to compare these players. And finally, there will be no consent reached who is best, because every side will have their arguments.
And finally, I think it's unfair that players from other positions get less credit. How many goalkeepers or defenders have won Golden Ball? Is it fair that players like Buffon, Bobby Moore, Xavi, Iniesta, Maldini, Pirlo or Oliver Kahn have never won it?

That is your opinion and you are entitled to it, it is not fact.

The point being made is no single football player can be called the greatest player ever because there are 11 different positions to be played on football field and no single player has ever played in all 11 positions sufficiently enough to be called the greatest player ever therefore to compare like-for-like players would be more reasonable.

On the other hand, Ronaldo is such amazing player, especially in his prime. Comparing with Messi, he is stronger physically and he can score headers. And I see that he change throughout the years. Instead of playing individually, he started to play more for the team, he started to dive less and show less arrogance. I think he changed as personality, become more

That not a fact, that is your opinion.

[LTU_btc]

That is your opinion and you are entitled to it, it is not fact.

The point being made is no single football player can be called the greatest player ever because there are 11 different positions to be played on football field and no single player has ever played in all 11 positions sufficiently enough to be called the greatest player ever therefore to compare like-for-like players would be more reasonable.

So, this is one of reasons why we can't call one of players as GOAT. I think it would be more reasonable to make XI of all time, and choosing best player in every position, but even this would make never ending discussions who is best goalkeeper, left back and etc.

That not a fact, that is your opinion.

Offcourse it is, same like every other post in this thread. I didn't said that is a fact.

[JeromeTash]

Cristiano Ronaldo of course. He has literally gone against all odds to prove how great a player he is.  He is a hybrid of hardwork and talent. While Barcelona was technically built for Messi(this is very evident through the failed Argentina project) , Cristiano Ronaldo has proved that he is a very reliable player at different club levels and Country

[JollyGood]

That is absolutely true, imagine trying to make an all-time-greatest XI. That would be a monumental task.

Just look at Alan Shearer, Ian Wright and Gary Lineker trying to find the all-time Premier League XI. Such a difficult task: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hOaSFP3n0A

That is your opinion and you are entitled to it, it is not fact.

The point being made is no single football player can be called the greatest player ever because there are 11 different positions to be played on football field and no single player has ever played in all 11 positions sufficiently enough to be called the greatest player ever therefore to compare like-for-like players would be more reasonable.

So, this is one of reasons why we can't call one of players as GOAT. I think it would be more reasonable to make XI of all time, and choosing best player in every position, but even this would make never ending discussions who is best goalkeeper, left back and etc.

[CryptopreneurBrainboss]

Don't even get why Messi is getting any vote, Messi is a dependant player, he needs to be playing with the best to achieve his full potential. He isn't a complete player, when you talk about leadership skills he doesn't have those. Without his left leg, Messi is as useless as Lingard. Ronaldo on the other hand is a big match player that delivers match after match. People think it's easy to score when all you have to do is complete the finishing touches, seems they haven't watched Morata play before especially at Chelsea.

Ronaldo on and off the pitch is far better than Messi but the media propaganda always favor Messi. They just want him to be the best even when he has lost his magic. Ronaldo has duplicated his success in three different league plus continental competitions but what has Messi done? Been made a god in Barcelona. Without wasting anytime, I'll choose Ronaldo over Messi.

[verita1]

Cristiano Ronaldo is an excellent player. He is the favorite of all the boys in my family. He has great football performance and unsurpassed human quality.
Lionel Messi is a brilliant player too but always the one who stands out the most is Cristiano.
This year the sports world will be very different too. Let us ask God for His mercy to return to normality.
 

[JollyGood]

What cannot be understated is how both Ronaldo and Messi are legends of the game in their own rights.

Ronaldo has proved his greatness by playing in three different top tier European leagues and being success in all of them (Premier League, La Liga and Serie A)

Messi never proved his greatness beyond a Barcelona team that was built around Xavi, Iniesta and Messi. After they both left Barcelona it was all about building the team around Messi but that has always limited him from proving himself as someone who could be successful beyond that Barcelona team.

Could Messi have been the player he is if he played in his peak in the premier league with its rough game play and heavy tackling and fast box-to-box speed? Ronaldo proved a domestic and European champion in la liga and premier league. He already is a domestic winner in Italian serie a and he would love to be a European champion too.

Even David Beckham was a success in the premier league and la liga. The prolific Sergio Aguero was a success in la liga and the premier league. The great Brazilian Ronaldo (El Fenomeno) was a success in la liga with Barcelona and Real Madrid and of course with Inter Milan even though blighted by injuries. That one season the great El Fenomeno Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima had at Barcelona under Bobby Robson, I saw electric pace and strength while he had to hold off multiple players trying to foul him but he was unbelievable.

What could Messi have done in another league outside his purpose built Barcelona team? We will never know but you can look at his failures for Argentina to come to some sort of conclusion.

As for what could Ronaldo have achieved playing in other top European leagues - we already know what he did with Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and Portugal - he was a success and is a multiple European champion for both domestic leagues and the Portugal national side.

Cristiano Ronaldo of course. He has literally gone against all odds to prove how great a player he is.  He is a hybrid of hardwork and talent. While Barcelona was technically built for Messi(this is very evident through the failed Argentina project) , Cristiano Ronaldo has proved that he is a very reliable player at different club levels and Country

[Chrystora123]

So if you were a Manager or Coach and had to select one player over the other, what would give as the reasons?

Cristiano is my choice.. my reason is because Cristiano has played in the English League, the Spanish League and finally the Italian League, every team that Cristiano has visited will surely show an increase in quality, playing in many leagues certainly makes Cristiano have to adapt to the team's game in that league.  whereas Messi has never moved to another league aside and that shows that Messi's experience is still far below Cristiano's.

[Lucius]

I'm sure every Barcelona fan will vote for Messi, while Real Madrid fans and Juventus fans will vote for Ronaldo for sure. Far from being a Messi bad player, but as a neutral member I have always appreciated Ronald's approach to playing at the club and in the national team. This man has always played at his maximum, leaving his heart on the pitch and has always been a key figure in every team.

In addition to being one of the best players ever, Ronaldo is also a great humanitarian who has helped and helps many in need. I can't say if Messi does anything like that, but Ronaldo definitely proves to be a compassionate man who gladly shares some of his wealth with others.

In 2013 he was named in the Uefa Team of the Year - earning a €100,000 (£89,000) bonus from the European governing body. But rather than cash the cheque, he donated it to the Red Cross.  A year later the Portuguese star led Real Madrid to La Decima, their tenth Champions League victory, and picked up a £450,000 bonus from Los Blancos.
But Ronaldo again decided against cashing the money, instead sharing it among the three charities he is an ambassador for, Unicef, World Vision and Save the Children.
The 32-year-old, compared to a growing number of his peers, is remarkably tattoo-free.
It's all for a reason - Ronaldo regularly donates blood and has been involved in numerous campaigns to encourage others to do the same. Ronaldo again donated a huge amount of money in 2015, to the relief efforts for the Nepalese earthquake in April 2015. Ronaldo is reported to have given £5MILLION to Save the Children's disaster relief fund - although those reports have remained unverified and were denied by the charity.