Understand: Cristiano and Lionel Messi (Part1)

Ronaldo plays wonderful football but to every logical minded person in this world who has some sense of reality - Messi's superiority in the field of football is more than evident. Because he is more than a player and he plays for more than a club.

Well, Mr. Wonka, since your insisting I suppose I should tell you. I will outline for you one small aspect of this important comparison that any curious cat will need to know when venturing into the unknown wilderness that is life football. Because, Mr. Wonka, you obviously don't know.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Lionel Messi

There is most obviously a quite distinguishing line between Lionel Messi + Cristiano Ronaldo and other footballers. The likes of Xavi, Iniesta, David Silva and a select few others are the keys to unlocking greatness in the two power houses mentioned above, giving the power and keeping away from the heat. Before the EURO2012 there were two very contrasting performances from both with Messi's majectic performance against one of the legendary world leaders of football; Brazil and Ronaldo's ultimately pointless performace which helped Portugal to limp into the Euro.

Many feel that Messi "cannot perform without Xavi and Iniesta." The meaning of Xavi and Iniesta being "support from a superior midfeild." Many understand this concept easily and hold this as the reason for Messi's greatness. But who wouldn’t go into depression when switching from Xavi or Iniesta feeding you the ball to ANY OTHER MIDFIELD in the world feeding you the ball? Messi is plenty fruitful in Champions League games, scoring more than any other footballer in Champions League history. Remember this is  against the superior talent  in the Champions League. He, more than once, proved that he can score at will against the best defenses in the world. But when he plays on an international level, against defenses that have less time to cement together than defenses playing for clubs, he hasn’t experienced the same goal return. Messi's gentle nature has caused the international spotlight to evade him for a few moments - more pressure is building on the best player in the world especially after Pele's, often seemingly offensive comments which discourage Messi's greatness.

Messi has committed his entire football career - from his childhood - to a club which focuses on the power of the midfeild - the power within.

Ronaldo has played this past season with bitterness. Most probably from the 3 year Ballon D’or drought. I, a long-time non-Ronaldo-fan (to put it lightly), was moderately satisfied with how much he tried to stay on his feet this season after tackles. Sure, his games still have more dives than an olympic competition, but to everyone his own. His international issues seem to weigh heavier on him than Messi. He always looks as if he is wearing the weight of the entire Portugal team on his shoulders - possibly because he is one of the few legends from the very same country whilst there has been more greats evolving from the southern Argentina. Cristiano Ronaldo, it always seems as if he is trying just a bit too hard. Just a bit.

Were you alive on June 9th 2012 Mr Wonka? Messi made sure that Brazil don’t assume that they will easily dominate every team located in their hemisphere. His three goals were impressive (to say the least) and, with the fact that they came against the behemoth that is Brazil, Argentina are being labelled major contenders in the next World Cup. 

Messi. He doesn't need assists and he most definetly does not need Physics either. He defies every principle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJMPK5DLEXk

Ronaldo’s performance was oppositial. His team scraped into the European Championships, being placed in the "group of Death" with a very impressive team flanking the Portuguese Armani model. They made it through above non other than the Netherlands (it seems almost like everybody made it through above the Netherlands) and, only this morning, travelled into the semi-finals. Despite all the fancy lace and satin in Ronaldo's footwork their victory came from nothing more than a vicious header from the very same Cristiano. As a Spanish fan it would be hypocritical to demean a header - our own World Cup final was the result of an extremely powerful header but Ronaldo is a footballer, one of the best in the world, and a little more is expected with that title.

Ronny we love you (not actually) but the grease is really not helping. Just saying.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg57rp2MiCc&feature=related

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery but today is a gift and that is why they call it the present." - Turtle.

We can easily forget Ronaldo's performance, or more realistically, the lack of it during the World Cup in 2010 where the only time he really shone was alongside news of an adorable child whom he'd fathered with a mother whose identity he did not care to reveal and a measly shot into the net of a Korean goalkeeper who seemed more delighted that Ronaldo had scored a goal than depressed that he had let yet another goal in. Sure, Messi is not the scoring machine he is with Barcelona but his performance with Argentina is wonderful. You can't help but smile in wonder. With awe and amazement at the little boy of little stature doing such big things.

So, Mr Wonka, Ronaldo scored a goal to put Portugal into the Semi Finals. Our great football Messiah, Lionel Messi was not born in Europe. Being an Argentine he cannot play in the Euro and therefore does not have the chance to prove his international price at this day and age against the same teams as Ronaldo does. So Ronaldo scored two goals against a shattered Netherlands - his gestures and proud facial expression telling me I dont need to praise him because he does enough of that himself, "I am the best footballer in the world," he stated. YES and how could I forget...he also scored a header against the Czech Republic. A team who felt lucky to get out of the group stages - a team who everyone knew would be one of "the other teams" in the EURO. 

And I'll tell you about the great Messiah, Lionel Messi - he scored a goal. and another one. and another one. Against a Brazil team that is looking to win the World Cup in 2 years time. A team who is using every single scrap of skill that it has to piece together a team better than Spain itself. A team which would easily beat the present Holand team.

-evieroo