IN the past decade, one footballing debate has raged on more than any other… Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi?
Both superstars have a hardcore fan-base desperately fighting their corner in the bid to be crowned the sport’s greatest of all time.
What would happen if you took the best bits of both Ronaldo and Messi to make one super-footballer?
But what if the best parts of each player were combined into one super-footballer?
Ronaldo’s right foot and aerial ability, combined with Messi’s left foot and dribbling, just to name a few key attributes.
Now that’s something everybody could appreciate…
RIGHT FOOT – Ronaldo
ONE of the few categories there can be no argument – Ronaldo has scored 64 per cent of his 725 career goals with his rocket of a right foot.
Powerful and accurate, there are few right boots as gifted as Ronaldo – and current Juventus team-mate Giorgio Chiellini knows it.
The Italian once admitted: “How to defend against Cristiano Ronaldo? Don’t give him any space and keep him off his right foot!”
LEFT FOOT – Messi
AS with Ronaldo’s right, Messi is the clear winner with his left foot, as an outrageous 83 per cent of his 697 goals have come on that side.
The Argentine has a unique ability to create space to get a shot away even when defenders know exactly what he plans to do. His accuracy with his left foot is outrageous, too.
The great Zlatan Ibrahimovic once admitted: “Lionel Messi does not need his right foot. He only uses the left and he’s still the best in the world.
“Imagine if he also used his right foot, Then we would have serious problems.”
Cristiano Ronaldo has one of the best right feet in football history
Lionel Messi has an absolute wand of a left foot
PACE – Ronaldo
NOW 35 years old, Ronaldo may have lost a yard of acceleration, but he’s still absolutely elite when he gets up to top speed.
In his prime, Olympic 100m sprinters would have had a hard time keeping up with him.
Even back in his skinny teenage years, Ronaldo was as quick as any pro – with Rio Ferdinand once suggesting he left John O’Shea needing oxygen after being run ragged in a pre-season friendly against Sporting Lisbon.
Ferdinand joked: “We played against Sporting in 2003, we get in at half-time and John O’Shea must’ve needed an oxygen tank next to him.
“He was in bits and he was sitting there panting. We were telling him to get closer to Ronaldo and he couldn’t even answer us.”
DRIBBLING – Messi
THE reason so many of Messi’s goals have come on his dominant left side is thanks to his ridiculous dribbling ability.
The Argentine sensation is able to keep the ball stuck to his foot like it’s glued there as he weaves his way beyond defenders, shifts across to his left side and fires home a pinpoint shot.
Of all managers in the world to receive praise from, Sir Alex Ferguson is a pretty good one – and the Scot is a big fan of Messi’s dribbling.
In 2016, Fergie said: “Messi is a fantastic player, it’s like he’s wearing slippers when he controls the ball.”
Germany boss Joachim Low added: “He’s capable of leaving eight or nine players in his path and his goals always stay in your memory.”
Argentina team-mate Pablo Zabalata once described Messi’s ability on the ball as “heavenly”.
SHOT POWER – Ronaldo
WHILE Messi has the finesse to place the ball seemingly wherever he likes at will, Ronaldo sometimes relies on his power.
The Portuguese star has a thunderbolt of a right boot thanks to his intense leg-training, boasting one of the most powerful shots on the planet.
Former Manchester United team-mate Roy Carroll was put to task by Ronaldo’s thunderbolts daily – and he can attest to the power he gets behind the shots.
Carroll said: “When he took a shot in training, the ball flew faster than it did when anyone else hit it.
“He had that technique, striking the ball through his laces, which made it move everywhere in the air. It’s just what he did.”
Messi’s dribbling and passing skills are unparalleled
Ronaldo’s ability in the air is real added bonus to his game
PASSING – Messi
RONALDO may be elite at punting the ball up the pitch and chasing it down for himself, but Messi likes to break open the opposition with some defence-splitting passes.
Up there with the likes of Kevin de Bruyne, Messi’s passing is outrageously accurate – when he’s not running through defences by himself, that is – and forever with an attacking intent.
Ronaldo’s former boss Zinedine Zidane even claimed Messi is the main man when it comes to passing thanks to his attack-minded approach.
Zizou said: “Messi makes the difference most of the time. In particular, he is always going forwards.
“He never passes the ball backwards or sideways. He has only one idea, to head towards the goal.”
HEADING – Ronaldo
THANKS to his incredible leap, as well as being that bit taller than Messi, Ronaldo is the clear aerial winner.
Ronaldo has scored 128 headed-goals in his illustrious career, with amazing hang-time and a vertical leap up there with professional basketball players (remember that header against Roma).
That allows wingers to aim the ball in that bit higher, out of the reach of defenders, with Ronaldo having a clear advantage over many centre-backs in world football.
Ex-Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger once even said as such, claiming: “Ronaldo is better in the air, more athletic [than Messi].”
FOOTBALL BRAIN – Messi
WHILE Ronaldo may use the outside of his head well, Messi uses the inside of his head well.
Able to out-think opponents and, like a chess player, think a number of moves ahead, Messi carves out chances for himself and team-mates in a way very few can.
Fabio Capello once came out and admitted he believes Messi is better than Ronaldo thanks to his imagination.
The ex-England boss said: “It’s one thing to be an outsider, and another thing, to be a genius.
“The difference is enormous, since a genius does what nobody imagines. Ronaldo is an extraordinary footballer, but Messi is a genius.”
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Even aged 35, Ronaldo has one of the best physiques in football
MOTIVATION – Ronaldo
THERE are few footballer – or sports stars in general – with more drive than Ronaldo.
Ever since being told he was too skinny to be a footballer, Ronaldo has beefed up and worked hard on and off the pitch to be the best player he can be.
Carlo Ancelotti – for a spell Ronaldo’s boss at Real Madrid – once said: “Cristiano is never happy. He always fights to be better.”
One of Ronaldo’s first ever coaches, Sporting Lisbon’s Aurelio Pereira, added: “What impressed me most was his determination.
“His strength of character shone through. He was courageous – mentally speaking he was indestructible.”
Former Portugal striker Nuno Gomes even claimed: “He was a kid who always wanted to do more, to train harder. He would work himself to the point of exhaustion.”
Ex-Man Utd pal Jonny Evans added: “He was influential because of his attitude and his determination to be No1.
“He set high standards for players of a young age. It was quite incredible to see.”
LEADERSHIP – Messi
RONALDO has the self-motivation to improve his game, even once admitting he actively pursues personal accolades, as being his best self is beneficial for his team.
But Messi is certainly more a team player, sticking with his Barcelona side through and through ever since his 2003 debut.
The Argentine would do anything for Barca and his team-mates know it – and his team-first attitude leads to goals aplenty for his pals.
Germany boss Low once revealed: “Messi is a great team player. He’s provided 30 to 40 assists for the last ten years as well as scoring around 50 goals.”
Pep Guardiola, his old boss at Barcelona, added: “Messi is definitely the best. He knows how to play, score and make the other players play. He is always there.”
Compatriot Diego Maradona – his former Argentina boss – said: “He’s a leader and is offering classes in beautiful football.”
On the flip side, Ronaldo could lead any team to glory all by himself, according to Ferguson – his old boss at Manchester United.
Fergie claimed: “Messi is a Barcelona player. But Ronaldo could play for Stockport County and score a hat trick.
“He has everything. He can shoot with both feet, head the ball, he’s as brave as a lion…”
PHYSIQUE – Ronaldo
AS already mentioned, Ronaldo’s motivation to be the best is also reflected in his work-rate in the gym.
No footballer on the planet can boast a physique as well-balanced as Ronaldo – and even at 35, the Portuguese star has the body of a much younger player.
He could easily play into his 40s…
And Juventus team-mate Douglas Costa has revealed Ronaldo’s incredible body has inspired the rest of the squad to shift a few pounds.
Costa claimed: “You often see Ronaldo topless and his physique is awesome. It drives everyone on and we all want to have a body like his.
“From when he arrived at the club, the percentage of body fat throughout squad has gone down. It’s remarkable.”
ARTISTRY – Messi
WHAT Ronaldo brings to the pitch in brawn, Messi makes up for with a unique elegance on the ball.
His touch, close control, dribbling, trickery and general on-ball artistry are unparalleled in football.
Legendary French boss boss Wenger once even suggested he would pick Messi over Ronaldo thanks to such “artistry”.
Wenger claimed: “Artistically, Messi is as well a guy who can give the final ball, so he’s maybe more a creative player than Ronaldo.
“Ronaldo is more a finisher, better in the air, more athletic, and Messi is the more artistic.
“So basically you are always tempted a little bit more by a player like Messi.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
