Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi

[Lucky*7*]

I dont think tonight really gave a clear opinion of one or the other. I think Messi was better tonight but not dramtically so. Having said that i voted Messi. Hes been too good for words this season. He has more awareness of who's around him than Cristiano IMO. And i find him to be more direct. Maybe not as fancy but he gets to the point quicker.

But Id rather have Iniesta than either.

Iniesta is great too imo and was man of the match tonight, the way he can stop, turn and accelerate is a joy to behold.

Iniesta and Xavi are the main reasons Barcelona are where they are. Im glad Pep has come in and put so much faith in Iniesta. Under Rijkaard he was often the one who got left out to fit the "Fantastic four" in, because hes only Andrés Iniesta. And Iniesta would never cause a fuss if hes left out.

He makes this Barcelona (and Spain) Team tick. Hes and Xavi are the hub, they are Pep on the pitch. I dont really understand why he doesnt get mentioned to often for world player of the year. Maybe its becaus hes this pale quiet little guy he doesnt make much noise. He was brilliant at the euro's and has continue to be brilliant for Barcelona this season. Be it as a false winger, sitting deep, or alongside Xavi, he will keep the Barcelona side ticking over from anywhere. His protection of the ball, vision and ability to skip passed players like they're not there is a joy to watch.

(Sorry for hijacking the thread with my Iniesta love    I wont start posting my love for Xavi, i promise. Hes is marvelous aswell though)

[seekingperfection]

I think that the way we played made them look way better than they were. We were in shambles.

I think to some extent Barcelona made you look worse than you we're. After that goal that was it, They found their feet and gave a exhibition in football. They didnt give you time to settle, they forced you into mistakes. The pressure they put Anderson and Carrick under made them look like Bolton players. They didnt give you any space or time on the ball and you couldnt force the game. Xavi and Iniesta took the game away from Utd, and whenever Utd did have the ball Barcelona we're on their back straight away.

The defence was crappy though. Not that i have much place talking about defences.

I guess it can go either way but the game belonged to whoever scored first and tactically speaking, Fergie got it wrong.


I think it depends if you're asking the question of who's better overall or who's had a better season because in my case, the answers vary. This season, Messi's been incredible but Ronaldo's injury slowed him down a lot which is why he wasn't at his best.

So here it is:

Tonight: Messi was better.
This season: Messi is better.
Overall: IMO, Ronaldo's better.

[♥ Majiek ♥]

Tonight: Messi was better.
This season: Messi is better.
Overall: IMO, Ronaldo's better.

My opinion too, we'll see whos better next season after a long summer rest, Cristiano's injury never helped him this season, its' not a excuse but when you hear football professionals and experts talk they all say pre-season is very important, and considering Cristiano has still scored 26 goals hes done very well imo, hes certainly done a good job of defending his crown, unlike previous winners of the Ballon d'Or.

[toni01]

I guess Messi will win this poll because of the game tonight is still fresh in peoples minds...

I guess Messi will win this poll because of the game tonight is still fresh in peoples minds...

I think thats unfair! Last season when people were debating who was the best player in the world, all the Ronaldo supporters rightly pointed out how much Ronaldo had won, how many goals he had scored, how influential he had been to United etc! Now this year Messi wins every category, won more, scored more, and has an impressive assist ratio as well!

I guess opinion will always be split, but if we base the award on the very argument used to support Ronaldo last year Messi wins imo!

I'm just saying more people will be influenced of Messi been better then Ronaldo (overall) based on this game, because Messi scored and Barcelona won, and when you consider the huge global TV ratings, I think that's fair??

But then Ronaldo scored and won the Champs League last season, so its swings and roundabouts isnt it? I think he scored anyway, I cant actually remember, header wasnt it?!

I dont think tonight really gave a clear opinion of one or the other. I think Messi was better tonight but not dramtically so. Having said that i voted Messi. Hes been too good for words this season. He has more awareness of who's around him than Cristiano IMO. And i find him to be more direct. Maybe not as fancy but he gets to the point quicker.

But Id rather have Iniesta than either.

Iniesta is great too imo and was man of the match tonight, the way he can stop, turn and accelerate is a joy to behold.

Iniesta and Xavi are the main reasons Barcelona are where they are. Im glad Pep has come in and put so much faith in Iniesta. Under Rijkaard he was often the one who got left out to fit the "Fantastic four" in, because hes only Andrés Iniesta. And Iniesta would never cause a fuss if hes left out.

He makes this Barcelona (and Spain) Team tick. Hes and Xavi are the hub, they are Pep on the pitch. I dont really understand why he doesnt get mentioned to often for world player of the year. Maybe its becaus hes this pale quiet little guy he doesnt make much noise. He was brilliant at the euro's and has continue to be brilliant for Barcelona this season. Be it as a false winger, sitting deep, or alongside Xavi, he will keep the Barcelona side ticking over from anywhere. His protection of the ball, vision and ability to skip passed players like they're not there is a joy to watch.

(Sorry for hijacking the thread with my Iniesta love    I wont start posting my love for Xavi, i promise. Hes is marvelous aswell though)

Xavi had a 93% pass accuracy tonight, and made the most passes of any player...thats just ridiculous! Iniesta a close 2nd!  Spain are very very lucky, they have a crazy amount of talent at their disposal, wonder if any of them have Scottish grand parents!

[♥ Majiek ♥]

I guess Messi will win this poll because of the game tonight is still fresh in peoples minds...

I guess Messi will win this poll because of the game tonight is still fresh in peoples minds...

I think thats unfair! Last season when people were debating who was the best player in the world, all the Ronaldo supporters rightly pointed out how much Ronaldo had won, how many goals he had scored, how influential he had been to United etc! Now this year Messi wins every category, won more, scored more, and has an impressive assist ratio as well!

I guess opinion will always be split, but if we base the award on the very argument used to support Ronaldo last year Messi wins imo!

I'm just saying more people will be influenced of Messi been better then Ronaldo (overall) based on this game, because Messi scored and Barcelona won, and when you consider the huge global TV ratings, I think that's fair??

But then Ronaldo scored and won the Champs League last season, so its swings and roundabouts isnt it? I think he scored anyway, I cant actually remember, header wasnt it?!

I agree but this was billed and hyped to death as Messi vs Ronaldo rather then Barcelona vs United, the casual fans get drawn in by that

[orca]

This season Messi has been better, no doubt about it. But who is ultimately better is a matter of opinion and there is no right answer. Imo Ronaldo's last season was better that Messi's this season.

As for this game, of course the crown goes for Messi, his team won. But imo Ronaldo was better for us than Messi was for them today.

I don't think Cris tried to prove himself, he just tried hard to win. I don't think he was anywhere near shelfish today. And all in all I think his performance was pretty mature.

"Ronaldo really did not seem to take the fall from grace well" couldn't disagree more, I think he has handled it well. He has shown more respect towards Messi than he has ever shown towards Ronaldo.

(As a team we failed today, we were far from our best and not just because from barca played good, don't wanna take any credit from them though. This finaly really didn't live up to the hype.)

[♥ Majiek ♥]

This season Messi has been better, no doubt about it. But who is ultimately better is a matter of opinion and there is no right answer. Imo Ronaldo's last season was better that Messi's this season.

As for this game, of course the crown goes for Messi, his team won. But imo Ronaldo was better for us than Messi was for them today.

I don't think Cris tried to prove himself, he just tried hard to win. I don't think he was anywhere near shelfish today. And all in all I think his performance was pretty mature.

"Ronaldo really did not seem to take the fall from grace well" couldn't disagree more, I think he has handled it well. He has shown more respect towards Messi than he has ever shown towards Ronaldo.

(As a team we failed today, we were far from our best and not just because from barca played good, don't wanna take any credit from them though. This finaly really didn't live up to the hype.)

I agree, I'd just like to add that Cristiano was the player from United who showed the most desire/passion to win tonight imo.

But all credit to Barcelona and Messi they deserve to win, Messi also had the freedom of Rome when United pushed forward for a goal in the 2nd half and played 4-4-2 with Berbatov, Ronaldo, Rooney and Tevez on the pitch, which of course made it easier for him then Cristiano and United.

But like I said Messi will win the best player awards and deserves them it's his year, but I still prefer Cristiano overall as a player, we'll see next season who has a better season, Ronaldo has had a great 42 goal season last season, Messi has had a great 38/39 goal season so far, so next season is the decider?  they are both great players, that's a FACT! 

[Merel]

It's very much everybody's opinion. Some people prefer Ronaldo's game, some prefer Messi's game. I prefer Messi so I would say that he is the best.
Even though it's a close call they are different players with their own class. I think it will always be a close battle and I say Messi will eventually be the winner. He is 21 and he is THIS player. It's amazing.

Even though this wasn't his best game (Nor was it Ronaldo's best game) even the Ronaldo biased fans can just sit back and enjoy Messi's game when he is on it.

Just like the Messi biased fans can enjoy aspects ofRonaldo's game. It's just a matter of taste.

Though I think it's a bit unfair that a lot of players get unnoticed, the likes of Gerrard, Cocu(when he was playing), Iniesta, Robben, Van Persie, Ribery etc etc. It's all Messi vs Ronaldo these days and it's a pity because we have more worldclass players than just those two.

[rtallah]

messi. messi didnt have a great game but thats because pep moved him back into midfeild because he was scared about manchester utds opening 10 minutes. hes lethal and has been all season. you cant stop him, no matter how many kicks he gets he'll get back up and make your defence look silly (im speaking from painful experience)

i agree with iniesta and xavi being ridiculously good too. i hate them

[Dejan#7]

messi is good player he can do anything with the ball hes great,BUT RONALDO IS GOD thats the main distinctness betwen them      

[piratQQa]

Absolutely Cristiano.

[ron7]

It will be very interesting to see them face each other again at the end of November. This time Ronaldo has Kaka on his side as well, so it may be a little harder to judge!