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Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are two of the greatest players of all time. The Portuguese talisman and the Argentine genius have dominated football for the past decade and have consistently amazed the audience with their extraterrestrial abilities.
Ronaldo and Messi have won five Ballon d'Or each in their glittering careers and remain the players with the most impact on the pitch for their respective teams, despite being in their 30s.
It is crystal clear that both these stars are big match players, who have stepped up on numerous occasions when needed. Ronaldo had his fair share of misses in the initial phase of his Real Madrid career but the Juventus star has made his presence known more than any other player in the planet in the last few years.
The Portuguese legend has made it clear in the last few seasons that he remains the better among the two when it comes to performing in big matches.
Without further ado, let us evaluate why Ronaldo remains a bigger 'big match player' than Messi.
#1 When the going gets tough, the tough get going
The famous expression means that when things are getting difficult and hard, the winners find a way to cross all their obstacles. It goes without saying that Ronaldo has done just that throughout his career, more than Messi or anyone else in the current era.
While Messi has performed in big matches too, the Argentine talisman also let his head drop in certain tough situations. The Barcelona star's constant lacklustre performances with Argentina does not help his case either.
On the other hand, Ronaldo has never let his head drop even when things were not going his team's way. The Portuguese superstar is ruthless and always look for opportunities to find a way to tilt the game in his team's favour.
The match against Hungary in the 2016 Euro Championship is one such instance where Ronaldo portrayed his formidable ability to be relentless at the face of pressure. Ronaldo thrives on pressure and it brings out the best in him, which makes him unmatchable in big games.
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#2 Indomitable will and fighting spirit
One of the main reasons why Ronaldo has remained at the top for over a decade is due to his mentality. Needless to say, the indomitable will to never give up and the fighting spirit is more in him than any other football player on the planet.
Simply put, Ronaldo is relentless and never gives up. This specific character trait is due to his hunger for success and the reason why the Portuguese talisman keeps looking for an opportunity to help his team. It is crystal clear why Ronaldo pops up when his teams need him the most.
Despite all his magic on the pitch, Messi somehow lacks the self-belief and fighting spirit at times. The Barcelona captain has not scored in a Champions League quarter-final since his goal against PSG back he 2013. The sheer will to push through the obstacles is seen more in Ronaldo than Messi, which ultimately makes a difference.
#3 Consistency
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.
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.
