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Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are undoubtedly the two greatest players of the generation. They have won everything there is to win in club football, yet they continue to be hungrier than ever, taking on new challenges to cement their legacy as the greatest ever to play the sport.
After successfully conquering La Liga, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have moved to different leagues, to Ligue 1 and Serie A, respectively. Cristiano Ronaldo has already won a few titles with Juventus, but newly-signed Lionel Messi is yet to kick the ball for Paris Saint-Germain.
Despite the pressure of playing in a new league and environment, we believe Lionel Messi is in a better position to finish the upcoming 2021-22 season on a high. And today, we will tell you why. Now, without wasting more time, let us take a look at
5 reasons why Lionel Messi will have a better 2021-22 season than Cristiano Ronaldo
#5 Paris Saint-Germain play in a less competitive league
Both Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus are two of the most respected clubs in the world. However, when it comes down to competitiveness, Serie A quite easily outperforms France’s Ligue 1.
When Cristiano Ronaldo moved to Juventus in 2018, he had a hard time settling in, especially due to the rowdy defenders of the Italian top-flight. Lionel Messi, on the other hand, is not likely to have the same problem. Paris Saint-Germain are considerably better than the teams they will face in the 2021-22 Ligue 1 season, and Messi is certain to reap the rewards.
Last season, PSG did come out second best in the Ligue 1 race, but it was due to their own complacency. The one-horse race should return to normalcy this season, which would win Lionel Messi his first league title in France.
#4 Lionel Messi is likely to play more than Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have defied the odds, time and again. However, neither superstar can escape the inevitability of biology, not for long.
Both Cristiano Ronaldo (36) and Lionel Messi (34) are on the wrong side of 30. However, it is the Portugal captain who is at a disadvantage. He is still exceptionally quick and can dismantle any defense in the world. However, Juventus are unlikely to deploy the Portuguese in easily-winnable matches - especially in the domestic cup competition.
Lionel Messi, who is two years younger than Cristiano Ronaldo, also needs a fair bit of protection. But Ligue 1’s lack of physicality should allow him to play and contribute more over the course of the season.
#3 Lionel Messi is more versatile than Cristiano Ronaldo
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo — the two former La Liga rivals — have a combined total of 11 Ballons d’Or, which goes on to say how dominant the two have been. However, considering their style of play and age, it is Lionel Messi who has a clear advantage.
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the best strikers of the ball, but he needs some creators to feed him in the final-third of the pitch. Yes, he is still a good dribbler, but he is more effective in and around the penalty box. Making the 36-year-old drop further down the pitch to collect is neither efficient nor that effective.
Lionel Messi, on the other hand, is not only an exceptional goalscorer but he is also one of the best creators. He can both benefit from the creative abilities of Neymar, Angel Di Maria, and Georginio Wijnaldum, and can seamlessly feed balls to Kylian Mbappe and Neymar. All in all, Lionel Messi of 2021 is a lot more versatile than Cristiano Ronaldo, which could help the former have a much more productive season.
#2 Paris Saint-Germain have a star-studded team
When Paris Saint-Germain signed Kylian Mbappe from AS Monaco in 2018, many saw it as a declaration of war in the UEFA Champions League and the end of domestic competitiveness in Ligue 1.
With Lionel Messi added to the mix, Paris Saint-Germain have officially created the most menacing trio in the world. Messi will have the likes of Mbappe, Neymar, Angel di Maria, Gini Wijnaldum and Marco Verratti in the top half of the pitch. This would allow the Argentine to take his time and pick out the best option for every move, which is nothing short of a cheat code for a player of Messi’s caliber.
Juventus, too, have a capable team, but are far from being the best in the business. Cristiano Ronaldo is their star man, meaning it is almost always up to him to deliver the goods. The Portuguese usually thrives under such unsurmountable pressure, of course, but not having players on the same wavelength can be restrictive.
#1 Paris Saint-Germain have higher UChampions League pedigree
Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus were already dominant in their respective domestic leagues, but they felt they needed more inspiration to bring home the UEFA Champions League. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are meant to be the final pieces of the puzzle and it will be interesting to see how that shapes out.
On paper, Paris Saint-Germain have a considerably sharper team. Having the menacing front three of Messi, Neymar and Mbappe is the stuff of dreams, and they have brought it to life. Juventus, on the other hand, will look to pair Cristiano Ronaldo with either Alvaro Morata or Paulo Dybala at the top, and bring Federico Chiesa as an extra attacking outlet. They are all talented players, of course, but PSG’s superstars have the perfect blend of experience and exuberance.
Both teams are desperate for a UEFA Champions League title and it could very well boil down to a classic battle between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. And if it does, Lionel Messi, with his star-studded team, will have a clear edge over the Juventus superstar.
