For over the last decade or so, two superhumans- Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo- has dominated football. Their statistics are unbelievable and their consistency remains unparalleled, which undoubtedly makes them the two best players in our era.
Of course, there are uncountable moments which portrays that both Messi and Ronaldo are head and shoulders above the rest. Their extraterrestrial ability to shape a football match within a blink of an eye depicts their greatness and their brilliance has been a joyful experience for fans over the last decade.
It is no surprise that the debate between who is the greater among the two has been raging on for years. The tantalizing displays have propelled the question to be raised an uncountable number of times in our minds.
There is no doubt that the two players with contrasting origins and styles have been an inspiration to many.
Despite the fact that this individual fight may seem like heading to a draw, one player among the two will always edge out. Even with Ronaldo's best efforts, Messi remains the artist who portrays football at it's highest form and edges out among the two considering various reasons.
Without further ado, let us evaluate why Messi is a better player than Ronaldo.
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#1 Lionel Messi is more complete; Technical ability
Both Leo and Cristiano are world-class goal scorers and the statistics in the last decade proves that fact. But the Argentine genius' overall game is miles beyond the rest and that includes Cristiano Ronaldo, too.
For instance, Lionel Messi has been the better dribbler, better decision maker and even the best scorer out of the two greats throughout his glittering career. Even now, when he is past 30, Messi keeps getting past numerous players with relative ease and remains the best dribbler, way above anyone else.
When he was just 19, Messi dribbled past more than five players to score a goal, which is reminiscent of Diego Maradona's goal of the century. Over the years, we have seen his magical movements in his goals against Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid and rest of the teams.
Moreover, Lionel Messi's vision is unparalleled which is why he is the leading chance creator and racked up way more assists than his current rival. Messi is 'mes que en scorer', he is also a playmaker. it is safe to say we have never seen anyone so versatile like Messi, not even Cristiano Ronaldo.
#2 More Individual accolades and team trophies
While both the greats simultaneously made and broke a plethora of records in the career, the Argentine genius. In the past few years, Ronaldo has managed to close the gap on Messi by winning the same number of Ballon d'Or awards (5) yet Messi remains the player with more accolades, considering both with his team and individual awards.
The Argentine genius has more individual accolades despite both him and Ronaldo winning the much coveted Ballon d'Or five times each but Lionel Messi has more European Golden Shoe awards and edges out in individual awards.
Lionel Messi has won more trophies with his team that the Portuguese star. In the current season, Messi is 10 goals ahead of Cristiano in the race for European Golden shoe and 15 goals ahead in all competitions, which clearly shows that the Argentine will only add to his trophies in this season.
#3 Messi is the heart of his team; Better team player
It goes without saying that Lionel Messi is a better team player, due to the fact that he is not just a goal scorer. Cristiano Ronaldo's goalscoring numbers are truly staggering and he is the star of his team but his need to feed him the ball makes him a footballer with more individualistic traits and narrows down his role based on a more singular ability.
Over the last few years, Ronaldo's role has been reserved as a free forward or a poacher. Messi is more versatile and can play the role of a feeder and poacher both. As a player, the Argentine is more versatile and he has already a huge number of assists to his name despite the sensational goalscoring numbers.
Messi's link up helps his teammates to open up, orchestrates the gameplay and never disrupts the harmony of the team. On the other hand, for Ronaldo to score, the strikers need to make space for him and sacrifice their own gameplay.
Gonzalo Higuain and Karim Benzema remain the prime examples of how much adjustment Ronaldo needs to fit into his role.
Lionel Messi's ability to run the team separates him from the rest. The Argentine drops deep in times of need to carry the ball and create chances and also, pops up with the goals when required. Clearly, Ronaldo needs his teammates more while the case is almost opposite in the case of the Argentine, despite football being a team game.
#4 Lionel Messi is the flag bearer and portrays football as an art
Football in it's purest form is art and statistics will never fully justify the beautiful game. All the numbers about goals, assists, pre-assists etc can never full depict the impact of a footballer, more so someone like Lionel Messi.
Like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo will retire as one of the greatest of all time. Despite his staggering statistics, he cannot match the visual experience and evidence which Lionel Messi provides with each of his movements on the pitch. At times, both are not even on the same plane- there are some things which even great Ronaldo can never do.
Some of the movements of the Argentine genius are inexplicable. Unlike Ronaldo, Messi cannot be reduced to any other statistical criteria due to the consistent magic moments Messi provide in almost each and every week. Even the best statisticians cannot possibly quantify e the uncountable moments of magic Messi has provided throughout the career.
In a media-driven era, it will be futile to ask anyone to judge the game without statistics, but watching Messi is a religious experience- something which cannot be comprehended by merely goals and assists or by highlight reels.
Football is a game of space and movements and Lionel Messi is the champions of it's highest order, who reminds us that the beautiful game is an art.
#5 Lionel Messi is more of a role model
Real Madrid's greatest goalscorer is obviously a better athlete among the two. More handsome, taller with eight pack abs and is undoubtedly a charisma. Ronaldo leaps higher than anyone else in the modern era and has more pace and strength. Lionel Messi falls short in all of those criteria but remains a better inspiration to the teenagers around.
The first and foremost thing is the Argentine's integrity. Messi rarely falls down easily unlike Ronaldo, who goes down after the slightest contact. Over the years, toughest defenders found it hard and almost impossible to shrug Messi off the ball. Messi has seen one red card throughout the career, significantly less number of times than Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo's famous wink to send his club teammate Rooney off the pitch is unforgettable for the wrong reasons and we have seen the Portuguese talisman getting angry at his teammates for scoring instead of him.
Lionel Messi is more honest and humble, down to earth even after achieving so much in his career. He never had to remind anyone that he was on the pitch, despite his arch rivals garnering the individual awards in the last few seasons. It is crystal clear that Messi is not just an inspiration football player but a role model for anyone, on and off the pitch.