2. Messi scores more goals per game :
In terms of stats, a debate might be a good thing to have and what is more relevant to compare than goals. Ronaldo is three years senior to Messi, who is now 29 years old, so goals per game ratio is the simplest and most fair statistic to compare between the two stars.
Messi has a huge advantage with respect to this and one that many fans of the Argentine would be quick to emphasize on. The duo have taken free-kicks and penalties right through their career and take up similar positions on the pitch in their team’s starting elevens, so these figures are directly comparable.
Messi has spent his entire career with Barcelona for his entire career now and with the Catalan side he has amassed a goals per game ratio 0.85 in the domestic league, which is easily above and beyond Ronaldo’s figure of 0.69. The Barcelona striker is quite consistent and lethal at the same time and a poor season for him is one, where he doesn’t hit 50 goals.
In the Champions League legends are so often created and both players have left their mark already on the greatest club competition on earth down the years. Against the big teams in the tournament, to have a 0.79 goals per game is almost beyond belief. Ronaldo isn’t even close to the mark and is currently at 0.64.
Finally, on the international stage, an area where Messi has received more than his fair share of criticism throughout his career. Many believe that past greats have single handedly bought success to their nation, something which Messi had struggled to do.
That was until the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where he led his national side to the final against Germany and also took them too Two Back to Back Copa America Finals but and suffered a heart break in all the three.
1. Messi has something special :
Achievements and statistics are one thing, but talent and application of that skill is another. Arguments can be made in large numbers which might help us reach a conclusion about whether Messi is actually better than his fierce rival Ronaldo or not, but at the end of the day it is one’s personal opinion that really matters on this subject.
There is no end to describing Messi’s ability, but it is the moments where he leaves commentators and fans stunned with his magic, which show us a new dimension to the game. Having driven Barcelona ahead in the first leg against Bayern Munich, he replicated one of his best performances back then.
With the ball glued to his feet, he ran around Jerome Boateng in circles, making one of the world’s best defenders look like a fool, eventually leaving him on the floor. It was a moment when you realize that Messi is truly magical. A moment you watch sport for. The number of times Messi makes you feel this way is unbelievable.
Another magical moment came in the Copa Del Rey final when he dribbled through nearly half of the Athletic Bilbao team to score the opening goal of the game for which he was nominated for goal of the season too.
He can do things with the ball at times, that even Ronaldo can only aspire to do. Defenders know where he wants to take the ball, yet game after game they can’t stop him. Messi is truly a unique phenomenon and whilst there will never be agreement on whether he or Ronaldo is the greatest, witnessing their battle is like nothing else.
