Ronaldo vs Messi – Their Seasons Compared
13th June 2015
Pirlo, Ronaldinho, Scholes, Zidane, Iniesta, Gerrard, Rivaldo, Henry, Xavi, Totti… Football fans across the globe have been more than spoilt with talent over the past few decades. The game is at its peak; never have we seen talent like it before. Sure, there have been great players in the past, but never so many gracing the same competitions, leagues and pitches at the same time.
But two players stand heads and shoulders above the rest in the modern game (albeit only metaphorically in the case of one…). Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are the two greatest players to ever kick a ball. So we’re hugely lucky to witness their extraordinary skills at the same time. But who’s better? It’s the ultimate question of the modern day game. And one we’re gonna cowardly swerve. But let’s look back at the season just gone. Who performed better in 2014/15? Let’s find out:
2014 Ballon D’Or
Both were, obviously, nominated (along with Bayern’s German sweeper keeper Manuel Neuer). Voting was tight, but it was CR7 that picked up the award.
Winner: RONALDO
La Liga
Messi scored a crazy 58 goals and picked up 27 assists. But if you think 1.03 goals a game is good, wait until you check out Ronaldo goals per game. 61 goals in 54 appearances, with 22 assists, saw him rack up 1.12 goals a game. It’s tight, but Ron’s goals stats stack up. But Barca won the league… So we can’t pick a winner.
Winner: DRAW
Champions League
Ronaldo played ten times, scoring ten. Messi – eleven times, scoring ten… But he won it. And with so many Man of the Match performances. So this one’s got a winner.
Winner: MESSI
Other cups (Copa Del Rey, Spanish Super Cup, UEFA Super Cup, Club World Cup)
Real Madrid and Barcelona are such massive clubs that there are various other trophies at stake for them. In these bonus competitions, the Argentine forward appeared six times, scoring five and setting up four. His Portuguese counterpart? Seven games, three goals, two assists.
Winner: MESSI
So who’s our overall winner?
Man, it’s tight. Ronaldo picked up the 2014 Balloon D’or and overall bagged more goals. But it was an oddly unsettled and tropheyless season for him. Messi, alongside Neymar and Suarez looks to be more settled than ever and the lynchpin of a once-again dominant Barca. His input to their treble just tips the balance.
We’re giving it to Lionel Messi!