This isn't a Messi-bashing thread before the fanboys start crying. For what it's worth, I believe Messi is the best player in the World and arguably the best ever (I don't agree he is, but it CAN be argued). Definitely the best in his generation.
The usual comparison Messi gets is with Maradona for various reasons, but for me personally I am not convinced he is better than peak Ronaldo from the mid to late 90's.
Ronaldo's first knee injury against Lecce in 1999 at 22 years of age basically stopped his development, he was never the same after that because the gravity-defying athleticism was gone. I don't know if it's because most fans have short memories or whatever, but it's crazy that they overlook Ronaldo. There is no doubt Messi is a phenom, but what about the guy that won world player of the year at 20 years of age? What about the guy that went to Serie A at 21, in the best, most tactical and defensive league in the World at the time - and scored 25 goals in 32 games? No adaption period, nothing. For someone to do that at 21 is unheard of. It's absolutely insane how good he was.
Messi can score 5 billion goals in La Liga (Cristiano has basically done the same, no? Even Suarez and Neymar are averaging a goal a game now) but IMO that will never be as impressive as what Ronaldo did - tear up La Liga with 34 in 37 and then go to Italy and score 25 in 32. And Ronaldo was always brilliant for Brazil National Team, his national career far exceeds Messi's even after his knee injuries.
The problem for Ronaldo was that his peak was so short, 3-4 years before his knees blew out. Messi has been lucky in this regard, has avoided major injuries and played in some amazing all-time Barcelona teams.
Anyways, maybe I am just old school. I just think these new generation players with the advent of social media and everything under the microscope get so much more exposure than other legends did in the past.
Ronaldo 96-99 vs Messi
The usual comparison Messi gets is with Maradona for various reasons, but for me personally I am not convinced he is better than peak Ronaldo from the mid to late 90's.
Ronaldo's first knee injury against Lecce in 1999 at 22 years of age basically stopped his development, he was never the same after that because the gravity-defying athleticism was gone. I don't know if it's because most fans have short memories or whatever, but it's crazy that they overlook Ronaldo. There is no doubt Messi is a phenom, but what about the guy that won world player of the year at 20 years of age? What about the guy that went to Serie A at 21, in the best, most tactical and defensive league in the World at the time - and scored 25 goals in 32 games? No adaption period, nothing. For someone to do that at 21 is unheard of. It's absolutely insane how good he was.
Messi can score 5 billion goals in La Liga (Cristiano has basically done the same, no? Even Suarez and Neymar are averaging a goal a game now) but IMO that will never be as impressive as what Ronaldo did - tear up La Liga with 34 in 37 and then go to Italy and score 25 in 32. And Ronaldo was always brilliant for Brazil National Team, his national career far exceeds Messi's even after his knee injuries.
The problem for Ronaldo was that his peak was so short, 3-4 years before his knees blew out. Messi has been lucky in this regard, has avoided major injuries and played in some amazing all-time Barcelona teams.
Anyways, maybe I am just old school. I just think these new generation players with the advent of social media and everything under the microscope get so much more exposure than other legends did in the past.
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