artetas_biggest_fan
Player Valuation: £6m
I’ve never seen the comparison. The genius of Messi is evident. Watching Cristiano try to pull of an elastico...it’s bleedin embarrassing. Technique wise it ain’t close. The gulf in skill level, the gulf in vision (assists differential is night and day), the gulf in dribbling ability, the gulf in linking up with play...Messi is always involved in games, Cristiano is on the end of moves.
There’s not one Cristiano devotee who could label him a “genius”. None. What he is is a deadly finisher (arguably the best scorer in terms of variety of goals the sport has seen....there’s been better finishers....Gerd Muller and Romario the most clinical, but two midgets and didn’t have Cristiano's aerial prowess, Van Basten the best volleyer, but didn’t have Cristiano’s ball striking ability from long distance). As an athlete he’s the perfect specimen who has completely devoted himself to the sport.
The argument that Cristiano has “done it in three leagues” doesn’t stand up either. Messi has taken apart the best the PL has to offer in the CL...the two finals vs Man U..scoring in both, and the 2011 game especially he took them to the cleaners. 2019 vs a damn near unbeatable Liverpool...Barca were outclassed, but won 3-0 due to Messi. In a previous round scored vs Chelsea. Arsenal he scored 4 goals in a last 16 game and had Wenger stating after it “he’s like a PlayStation”. Doing it against the best from England may not be enough though....he’d struggle against Burnley, West Brom, Newcastle and co. Against West Ham he likely wouldn’t get a kick as Moysie would have him shackled...or maybe not. As for Serie A, that league is bobbins compared to what it was.
I never thought I’d see better than Ronaldo, especially from his Barca and Inter Milan days, until Messi. Talent wise I’d struggle to put Cristiano third behind those two. Ronaldinho was more gifted, Rivaldo too, but Cristiano’s productivity, efficiency and monk like dedication would probably push him into third place overall.
