GOAT Debate: 3 reasons why Cristiano Ronaldo is a bigger 'big game player' than Lionel Messi

Argentina v Portugal - International Friendly
Argentina v Portugal - International Friendly

#3 Consistency

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Real Madrid v Barcelona - La Liga
Real Madrid v Barcelona - La Liga

Last but not least, Ronaldo is more consistent in big games than his arch-rival Messi. The 31-year-old Argentine may be ahead in consistency when it comes to league form but Ronaldo has been more consistent in the knockout rounds of Champions League and for his national team.

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Ronaldo has scored more Champions League goals in the knockout stages than anyone else. His unforgettable performances against Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, Wolfsburg remains eternal in the history of the competition as he bailed out his team from tough situations.

On the international front, Ronaldo single-handedly took Portugal to the 2014 World Cup. In the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers, Ronaldo consistently kept performing which helped Portugal to top their group. The Portuguese star's contribution to his nation winning the 2016 European Championship is unfathomable, despite him suffering an early injury in the final.

On the other hand, Messi's Champions League record is far below Ronaldo's, especially in the knockout rounds, and the Barcelona star has often flattered to deceive for Argentina. The misses in the Copa America finals, especially the miss in the penalty shootout against Chile, still remains a haunting memory for La Albiceleste.

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Edited by Samya Majumdar
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