Monday, 7 May 2012

THE MESSI VERSUS RONALDO FACTOR

The Premier League is coming to an end. So is La Liga. Manchester United are yet to relinquish the title to City... completely, although we all know we gave it up with that Everton game. The minute Fergie substituted Scholes, that game changed and we started playing defensive. By this time am sure you are aware am a Man United fan. But we are not here to speak of Man United, or Everton... or Manchester City.

Real Madrid won their first league in 4 years. Am sure they are very happy. I was happy for them too. Barcelona had become too much with their "All I do is win" mentality. Hell, they were taking it far, even. But they are yet to capture the Champions League trophy two time in  a row... no ona has yet, since 1990.

It is interesting to note that they were strong favourites this season too, and Chelsea got VERY LUCKY to have beat Barca being a man down. Not many teams could have done that. In fact... I think none. Credit to Chelsea. But despite Barca being a strong TEAM, there is one man who single-handedly carries their weight on his shoulder... if you like feet. MESSI. The kid is a god. Simply put.

Goal.com usually have this week-in-week-out player rating where they rate players and it is interesting to note that this Messi guy usually does very well on it. Cristiano Ronaldo does very well too. But in some games, he has been accused of not stepping up to the occasion. Especially during EL CLASSICO. So goal.com did a half-season tally and Messi's average was something close to an 8 while Ronaldo averaged a mere 6.75.

Needless to say, they may have been miles apart then, but I think Ronaldo took that criticism as fuel for his fight back and look where he has gotten his team now. Second top scorer, after Messi of course, and a La Liga title bagged. they may have exited the Champions League in the semis at the hands of Bayern but he was instrumental in every bit, including their exit for missing that penalty.

Messi on the other hand.. there are little things, people included, that can stop this guy. He scores when he wants, however many times he wishes. he now hold the record for the most goals in a single Champions League match, having scored 5. Its a shame they went down against a lack-lustre Chelsea side though. It kind of even beats you how it happened. The kid has 71
goals this season in all competitions, 49 in La Liga. I mean really... is this guy brilliant or what?

It is worth noting that La Liga may already have been won, yet the contest between two of the the world's best players continues... in the search of all that is great in the eyes of football. messi clearly has an upper hand, with 4 goals over Ronaldo in La Liga, and his other goals just show his immense contribution elsewhere. Ronaldo on the other hand ha shelped his club gain their first title in years so his contribution is as big, if not bigger.

Am just waiting for the end of the La Liga season to see who wins the PICICHI award(that's the Top Scorer's Award in Spain for those who didn't already know) and the Footballer of the Year award by FIFA. No one really can tell, but we can only wait.

Lets talk some more football another time.

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