[Cammy35]

Following on from another thread and Pele's comments about Messi. Who would you rather have in your team? Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.

I'm not saying this to be different but I would genuinely prefer Cristiano Ronaldo. I am basing this purely on football reasons, not personality.

Your opinions please.

This post has been edited by Cammy35: 22 January 2012 - 08:50

[nessies long lost ghost]

Messi

[JRD]

Messi, he's better. And I fancy him a wee bit.

[JamboMikey]

Messi.

[BOOCHIR]

You missed out Harkins.

[Steve McQueen]

Messi is undoubtedly the better player but he has great players setting him up.

I think Ronaldo might create more of his own goals so just him.

[murphy1970]

Messi by a country mile. In my opinion he's in a totally different class to Ronaldo. Ronaldo's quicker and taller and that's about his only two advantages.

[Akpo Sodje]

John Potter

[Cammy35]

murphy1970, on 21 January 2012 - 21:22, said:

Messi by a country mile. In my opinion he's in a totally different class to Ronaldo. Ronaldo's quicker and taller and that's about his only two advantages.

Ronaldo has a significantly higher strike rate at both club and international level, has also played in Britain (scoring 42 goals in one season for ManU) and looking at the assist stats Messi is not that far ahead of Ronaldo.

I agree fully that Messi is a great footballer and is by far the more enjoyable to watch. However there is a case for saying that Ronaldo is the more effective player. My reason for choosing him over Messi is that Ronaldo has proved he can be as good in more than one team. Messi is a legend only for Barca. For Argentina he is excellent but not the magician that he is at Barca.

This post has been edited by Cammy35: 21 January 2012 - 21:31

[murphy1970]

It is certainly true that Ronaldo is the more prolific goal scorer but I don't think playing in England is such a big deal. Barca and Real are better than any current EPL sides and I think that if Messi was playing in the EPL for a top club he'd rattle the goals in, though as he'd have to be certifiable to leave Barca for an EPL side, I don't think that theory will ever be put to the test.

[Mr. Brightside]

The correct answer is Messi.

[TheLip69]

Cammy35, on 21 January 2012 - 21:31, said:

Ronaldo has a significantly higher strike rate at both club and international level, has also played in Britain (scoring 42 goals in one season for ManU) and looking at the assist stats Messi is not that far ahead of Ronaldo.

I agree fully that Messi is a great footballer and is by far the more enjoyable to watch. However there is a case for saying that Ronaldo is the more effective player. My reason for choosing him over Messi is that Ronaldo has proved he can be as good in more than one team. Messi is a legend only for Barca. For Argentina he is excellent but not the magician that he is at Barca.

Messi is the more complete player, only a fool would state otherwise, as for his record with Argentina, it more or less matches Ronaldo's with Portugal who have hardly scaled the footballing heights.
Barca play football that suits Messi's style, whereas Ronaldo plays to suit himself.

[AsimButtHitsASix]

Steve McQueen, on 21 January 2012 - 20:00, said:

Messi is undoubtedly the better player but he has great players setting him up.

I think Ronaldo might create more of his own goals so just him.

My thoughts exactly. I think Messi's a better player but I doubt he'd work as well with Paul di Giacamo as Ronaldo would and I don't know if Messi could make the step from Xavi and Ineista to playing with Fred and Tids

[Cammy35]

TheLip69, on 21 January 2012 - 22:00, said:

Messi is the more complete player, only a fool would state otherwise, as for his record with Argentina, it more or less matches Ronaldo's with Portugal who have hardly scaled the footballing heights.
Barca play football that suits Messi's style, whereas Ronaldo plays to suit himself.

I agree Messi is the more complete player in terms of skill. That is not the question, I am saying "Who would you rather have in your team?", I answered Ronaldo because I think with his pace and ability to score with both feet and his head he would be more effective in the British game. I cant say this for certain. But Ronaldo has already proven himself on these shores whereas outside of Barca Messi has yet to prove he is the footballing god that he is made out to be. For the avoidance of doubt I do think Messi is a great player, the most skillful of his generation for sure.

[Gretna Til They Die]

AsimButtHitsASix, on 21 January 2012 - 22:20, said:

My thoughts exactly. I think Messi's a better player but I doubt he'd work as well with Paul di Giacamo as Ronaldo would and I don't know if Messi could make the step from Xavi and Ineista to playing with Fred and Tids

Nah I think he would. Mr Bachirou = Mr Iniesta.

I know my Morton nicknames me!

[AsimButtHitsASix]

I don't know. Iniesta to Tidser is a pretty big step up.

[unionjackie]

I'd take Messi as we struggle wide right and he's better at this position. Out left we have lafferty and wylde so were covered ok.

[rw89]

Ronaldo for the simple reason that he'd be better with the hoofed balls up the pitch.

Still prefer Messi as a player mind.

[Bully Wee Villa]

Messi by a million miles.


(i) He's better at football.

(ii) He's not a massive c**t.

[fueradejuego]

Cammy35, on 21 January 2012 - 21:31, said:

Ronaldo has a significantly higher strike rate at both club and international level, has also played in Britain (scoring 42 goals in one season for ManU) and looking at the assist stats Messi is not that far ahead of Ronaldo.

I agree fully that Messi is a great footballer and is by far the more enjoyable to watch. However there is a case for saying that Ronaldo is the more effective player. My reason for choosing him over Messi is that Ronaldo has proved he can be as good in more than one team. Messi is a legend only for Barca. For Argentina he is excellent but not the magician that he is at Barca.

What is the significance of playing in England? Scoring goals against dross like Wolves is the same as scoring goals against dross like Santander.

How do you measure effectiveness?

I cannot remember the exact figure but Ronaldo scored 6 goals from free kicks in all comps last season. He hit around 45 free kicks.

Both Ronaldo and Messi have similar scoring records but again last season Ronaldo hit approx 100 shots more than Messi. Ronaldo has started to become less selfish this season and has a number of assists to his name and arguably Madrid are stronger because of it.

I don't see either being particularly good at international level due to being surrounded by some players of lesser quality and also because of the burden and expectation placed upon them.

This post has been edited by fueradejuego: 22 January 2012 - 13:52

[Cammy35]

Im not saying it as a matter of fact, it is just my opinion. Whilst I fully accept that Messi would be an excellent player wherever he plays I just don't think he would be the godlike footballing genius he is made out to be at Barca. Ronaldo on the other hand has proved himself on these shores and for that reason, added to his pace and aerial ability, I would pick him first.

[BOOCHIR]

Cammy35, on 22 January 2012 - 22:23, said:

Im not saying it as a matter of fact, it is just my opinion. Whilst I fully accept that Messi would be an excellent player wherever he plays I just don't think he would be the godlike footballing genius he is made out to be at Barca. Ronaldo on the other hand has proved himself on these shores and for that reason, added to his pace and aerial ability, I would pick him first.

Just my opinion, but I reckon Messi could make the step up to the SPL.

[SuperCaleyGoBallistic]

Akpo Sodje, on 21 January 2012 - 21:27, said:

John Potter

I like how you name a really shit player in a thread like this, you know for the lolz. Extremely original sir.

[banterman86]

fueradejuego, on 22 January 2012 - 13:51, said:

What is the significance of playing in England? Scoring goals against dross like Wolves is the same as scoring goals against dross like Santander.

Whilst i would never argue taht messi having only played for Barca makes him soemhow "incomplete", it is certainly to Ronaldo's credit that he has excelled in the two best leagues of his footballing career.

Plenty of players have excelled in one league and flopped in another, as they can't handle the culture shock - be it on or off the pitch. I also think his time in England is what made Ronaldo into one of the best ever - there's every chance he could have remained a skinny step over merchant with no end product if Real had signed him straight from Sporting.

I don't think it's necessarily relevant in this topic however.

This post has been edited by banterman86: 23 January 2012 - 09:57

[SodjesSixteenIncher]

Ronaldo.

The lad has the presence to work the channels, put himself about and generally make a reet gid nuisance of himself.

Messi wouldn't fancy a cold Tuesday night in Inverness so he can get tae f**k.