Nothing you said contradicts what I said.
Cristiano Ronaldo - Much Ado About Al Nassr
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Nik (@Rood), Jamie (@Vault Dweller) and Ed (@That'sHernandez) give their end of season awards out! They celebrate the best players, goals and moments of the season (there were some, honestly) and also give out awards for the worst and most disappointing players/moments of the season.
They then discuss all the latest transfer rumours and get into the potential ins and outs this summer at Old Trafford.
You must have mistaken by going by poor Wikipedia editing.
https://web.archive.org/web/2015092...-for-the-mastercard-all-star-squad-19802.html
“After the conclusion of the round of 16, the Technical Study Group (TSG) drew up a shortlist of over 50 players for consideration for the All-Star Team based on the first 56 matches. After evaluating the players' overall performance throughout the tournament, the TSG has nominate 23 players for the MasterCard All-Star squad.“
They made the squad after round of 16. What?
What happened was Ronaldo was rested in Portugal final group stage. Targeted by Netherland, got injured and left the pitch early. He obviously would not get good rating with this handicap.
This premature shortlist is very questionable. It created situation where immerse performance like Owen Hargreaves against Portugal in quarter final round (even when down to 10 men) would not influence the final XI. He had no chance to make into this squad, even if England had better luck with the penalty and eliminate Portugal. Figo did not have any single memorable performance equivalent to Hagreaves’ against Portugal. Figo was not that great overall in all the games, either. Figo should have been also sent off against Netherland (later against France for stud on Abidal face). The metric for the rating was unclear. Portugal got to semi final would allow Figo to get into XI since competition for his role as RW was nonexistent.
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Got to give it to him. Not giving up at the age of 41 and still looking for that elusive first goal in a WC knockout game.
It does refute your points, because you were trying to make out that it was a 'before Ronaldo and after Ronaldo' scenario, almost like BC and AD, FFS. The other poster is pointing out that Portugal had significant progress immediately prior to Ronaldo even entering the team.
Also, Portugal as a football nation before Ronaldo was not like Turkey or Bulgaria. They had multiple Ballon D'Or winners, multiple European Cup winners, a WC Golden Boot winner and myriad other successes in the game. A proud history. This is the kind of environment that someone like Ronaldo could emerge from, a fertile football environment.
It would be much stranger for Ronaldo to come out of somewhere like Turkey or Bulgaria. Hungary is maybe a better comparison, because they do have a notable football history.
So I'm not mistaken.
How so?
Carvalho , Maniche, Ricardo couldn’t make the final XI. The selection and rating was flawed. Anyone watched that tournament wouldn’t think Figo was that great to be in best XI. Not a goal threat. Missed big chance to equalize against France. Should have been sent off twice. So so performance overall. Messi, F.Torres, Ribery, Ronaldo, Kaka, Riquelme… were overall better in the eye test.
You’re just pushing an agenda if you just based your opinion on these unclear selection without zero recall of actual performance.
They did but you can just see the stats in terms of WC/Euro qualifications pre and post ronaldo, or if you like can even sub-divide them into post figo. There is no denying that while Ronaldo has been playing, Portugal have achieved a lot more success in terms of not only making tournaments but even winning them.
I'm stating facts. I think you might be the biased one pushing an agenda.
He wanted to create an iconic moment with what he did with the trophy. What a cringy small man.
On one comment you had the nerve to talk about context, then when I pointing out how FIFA selection was flawed, you just ignored all the context?
Figo at that point in time was benefiting from the stronger “core”. Riquelme was visibly playing much better than Figo the whole tournament and was not included into even 23 player squad list for some unknown reason. He even assisted the goal for Argentina against Germany in quarter final, and Argentina was in control until Argentina coach decided to sub him off for Cambiasso protect the lead. Germany equalized soon after and won on penalty. The quality gap between Germany and Portugal was wide as seen in the third place game. As I had pointed out, the selection was drafted in a way to favor Figo to get into the final XI without merit.
Anyone with eyes and any decency that followed that tournament would question the selection. Especially when FIFA was proven to be corrupting at least under Sepp Blatter, no? World Cup 2002 was plagued with blatant gaslighting refereeing corruption. Then Italy down to 10 men against Australia was gifted a penalty in last minute from a blatant dive.
What you all should admire more than anything is his work ethic, discipline, dedication and hunger.
That’s far more important than whatever talent you’re born with.
Michael Jordan was bort with an incredible talent, but without his work ethic and discipline he would never won 6 titles.
Tom Brady wasn’t especially physically talented but his work ethic and discipline made him the most decorated QB ever.
Khabib Nurmagomedov dedicated his life to become the best MMA fighter ever. Without discipline and work ethic it would have been impossible.
Instead of debating who’s better or worse admire them all and see what you can learn and replicate for your own success.
None of you will be born with Messi’s or Ronaldo’s talent.
But what you can learn from them both is that hard work and dedication can make you all successful in whatever you put your mind in.
That’s what you should take from Cristiano Ronaldo. His success isn’t about what talent he was born with, it’s about far more important characteristics.
That’s far more important than whatever talent you’re born with.
Michael Jordan was bort with an incredible talent, but without his work ethic and discipline he would never won 6 titles.
Tom Brady wasn’t especially physically talented but his work ethic and discipline made him the most decorated QB ever.
Khabib Nurmagomedov dedicated his life to become the best MMA fighter ever. Without discipline and work ethic it would have been impossible.
Instead of debating who’s better or worse admire them all and see what you can learn and replicate for your own success.
None of you will be born with Messi’s or Ronaldo’s talent.
But what you can learn from them both is that hard work and dedication can make you all successful in whatever you put your mind in.
That’s what you should take from Cristiano Ronaldo. His success isn’t about what talent he was born with, it’s about far more important characteristics.
What do you think his average fan admires?
Saying the European Championships is not a major trophy just because you hate Ronaldo is wild.
Good for him winning the nations league, even if it's z list trophy pretty much.
Still his physical decline is a major problem and he shouldn't be starting.
Still his physical decline is a major problem and he shouldn't be starting.
I don’t love Ronaldo the person, and I think Ronaldo the player is not in the top tier GOAT discussion, but what I admire is that he has pretty much never stopped trying to be the best when he plays. Even though his speed has gone, his touch has deserted him at times, he still has the will to win and score every game. After all he’s achieved, to still do it in his 40s is quite something, I imagine 99.99% of footballers across history are retired before their 40’s, and here he is scoring goals in somewhat big international games versus the current euro champions, and he has yet another trophy to his name.
Ronaldo's weirdboy fans make me dislike Ronaldo way more than any of the cringey shit he actually does.
I have eyes and plenty of decency, actually. Now you're going into 'FIFA corruption' to try and explain his name not being there? It's not the end of the world or anything, it just suggests that the team at that time wasn't all about him. Which it wasn't.
Ronaldo likely didn’t make the team of the tournament due to politics in the aftermath of the Rooney red card incident. Similar reason he was snubbed for the young player of the tournament award (there are many articles about this).
From what I watched on my TV screen, he was the most dangerous Portuguese player on the pitch in every game especially in the QFs against England and semis against France.
He was very good in 2004, i haven't looked at his other tournaments in detail but that one is possibly his best imo (mainly because i actually remember his performances).
True. For me, his career breakout game was the semi-final against France. He outshone everyone, including Zidane, Henry and Figo. In the middle of the next season both Ferguson and Scholes said that he was the best player in the world.
On a different note, everyone should have career goals and one of his career goals is 1000 career goals.
Well no, there is no need for a solution. Just that a Copa America win is not as prestigious as a Euros win. Just like how an Asian Cup or African Cup of Nations win isn't as highly rated as a Euros.
The way he behaved at United (twice) everything tells me to not like him… but I can’t help but like him and smile when he scores.
He just has that knack of scoring, he makes tap ins look easy but he’s the one there for them where other forwards may not be.
he’s done wonders for Portuguese football. Even if he’s past his prime now he’s probably encouraged thousands of kids to try and emulate him from Portugal and has raised the standards.
He just has that knack of scoring, he makes tap ins look easy but he’s the one there for them where other forwards may not be.
he’s done wonders for Portuguese football. Even if he’s past his prime now he’s probably encouraged thousands of kids to try and emulate him from Portugal and has raised the standards.
What he's done in his career is absolutely unbelievable. The mental strength to keep going, keep trying to improve, is phenomenal. I'm really not sure, however, whether Portugal actually still benefit from him being in the team.
Ronaldo kind of reminds me of playing football with my granddad in the garden one time after giving him loads of coke.
Work ethics, mentality, attitude, all are very important part of his success, obviously, but i don't think we should understate the role talent has had though.
He may not have been a teenage sensation like brazilian Ronaldo, Messi, or even Mbappe, but his talent was there to see from the start, waaaay above whats normal, there aren't many that can become a top, let alone elite player, its a rather select few.
He may not have been a teenage sensation like brazilian Ronaldo, Messi, or even Mbappe, but his talent was there to see from the start, waaaay above whats normal, there aren't many that can become a top, let alone elite player, its a rather select few.
Agree with your larger point but I think he arguably had more talent than Mbappe. Teenage Cristiano could be unplayable whereas Mbappe has mostly relied on pace I feel.
Difficult one, Mbappe definitely was more of a finished product in his teens than Cristiano, while Cristiano took a couple of seasons before he was up to speed, i do think he was more talent overall than Mbappe though.
Another truly talented one, was/is Neymar, but he was ruined by injuries, as much as moving to PSG.
So, you also need to be lucky, or rather, be built to stand challenges, Neymar just wasn't built for it, by contrast, how Messi basically never got injuried with his playstyle, i'll never know, even in his 30s.
All this 'I still say he shouldn't be starting for Portugal and they'd be better without him if only anyone was brave enough to drop him...'
Portugal have just won the Nations League with Ronaldo as the second highest scorer in the whole competition with 8 goals in 9 games. Portugal's next highest scorer had 2 goals.
Most nations / players don't get to win international tournaments. Ronaldo's goals have just helped fire Portugal to another international success.
Why the f*** would you drop a player with his CV when he's still capable of being the second highest scorer in a competition and helping you to win it!? There's absolutely no need to be dropping a player who is still delivering those numbers and helping the team to be a success. Especially when there's no decent alternatives.
Everyone goes on about 'if you're good enough you're old enough' when it comes to young players. Well, 'if you're good enough you're young enough' applies to older players as well. If you're still outscoring pretty much everyone else in the entire competition, and helping your team to success by winning the whole thing, then you're definitely still good enough to be selected.
Portugal have just won the Nations League with Ronaldo as the second highest scorer in the whole competition with 8 goals in 9 games. Portugal's next highest scorer had 2 goals.
Most nations / players don't get to win international tournaments. Ronaldo's goals have just helped fire Portugal to another international success.
Why the f*** would you drop a player with his CV when he's still capable of being the second highest scorer in a competition and helping you to win it!? There's absolutely no need to be dropping a player who is still delivering those numbers and helping the team to be a success. Especially when there's no decent alternatives.
Everyone goes on about 'if you're good enough you're old enough' when it comes to young players. Well, 'if you're good enough you're young enough' applies to older players as well. If you're still outscoring pretty much everyone else in the entire competition, and helping your team to success by winning the whole thing, then you're definitely still good enough to be selected.
Messi is more clever, he has genius level manage of time and space, he is more assertive and once you doubt he is already gone. Also if you arrive late you have to committ to some foul that would blatantly expose the player doing it since more than probably would be from behind at high pace (you have to catch him too), he is deceptively strong too and finally he is more focus and less talkative or a teaser (BTW I'm not on favor on any sort of criminal tackle just because the offensive player does some trick or does some extra pour le galerie stuff, yet this situations sometimes end in some silly revenge from rivals)
Never ceases to amaze me how weird Ronaldo fans are.
Strangely, Memphis Depay has a sort of similar fansbase in The Netherlands.
What about Kuyt ? There must be a cult of the defensive forward as well. Such a rare breed.
I'm not signed up to Twitter or things like that in terms of being able to post, and there's some that block you reading unless you're a member, but from what I see and hear on there, here, and just in society in general, then there seems to be weird levels of fixation at both extremes of loving and hating Ronaldo.
A lot of it is silly stuff between fans of Messi and Ronaldo - as if it even warrants being laughed at or criticised on either side that you're in the top two of the greatest players of your generation!
That bit I can understand more though - if you're really positive about something you might get tribal at a perceived rival (same as fans of rival clubs spend so much having digs at each other).
But for me by far the weirdest ones are those who feel such hatred that they feel the need to go on to places simply to constantly try to undermine the huge successes of either player. That's really weird and pathetic. Spend far more time discussing the things that you like, not going on to other places just to troll and slag off the things that those other people like.
Nah, no one likes Dirk Kuyt. He was always a preachy fraud.
Discussing things you like is boring. Especially for us Dutch people. We're a nation of complainers.
I do prefer Ronaldo over Messi, but mostly in a sort of comedic way. It just looks exhausting, being Ronaldo.
Messi is just sort of... nothing? I'm not sure he even exists outside of a football pitch. I doubt it.
Xcancel is good for that if you want to rid yourself of a few brain cells you can read most tweets & replies.
Talent is a very subjective and unmeasurable thing. Considering mental, physical and football skills, I would argue that Ronaldo is the most talented of them all.
Pure football wise it's probably Messi though.
Mbappe isn't more talented than Ronaldo. Manchester United (from '07) / early RM years Ronaldo was worth 2 Mbappés. He was insane
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Neymar got the worst treatment of the lot and because he was despised by so many, it was allowed to go on to levels that were of bygone eras. Messi had a lot more respect and regard in the game for his more minimalist style of play. Messi is going to beat you, but in the least humiliating way; Neymar is going to make a mockery of you and farm as many ole’s from the crowd as he can. His style was not lauded by opponents, whereas Ronaldinho could do the same and be loved for it.
I don’t think Messi would have fared any better if Tiger Knee’d in the back… but there’s also the issue of build. Neymar was a skinny waif of a player and not compact and densely built like Messi. In terms of durability, he was always more predetermined to succumb to injuries than Messi so married to the hatred and a far more flamboyant (read irritating) style, their paths were quite different - many tried to actually injure Neymar whereas with Messi they were mostly just trying to stop him from being a menace. The contact points on their fouls tell their own story.
How to ditch 2 defenders - 101
1. Wait for Huijsen to look at you
2. Bluff it like it's poker and signal you're moving forward
3. Show Cucurella how to calculate ball trajectory
4. Shove him like a 3rd division player
1. Wait for Huijsen to look at you
2. Bluff it like it's poker and signal you're moving forward
3. Show Cucurella how to calculate ball trajectory
4. Shove him like a 3rd division player
I think the context of their different era can help. When Ronaldo started out, football still encouraged flair, especially coming from Sporting Lisbon academy, a Portuguese club. There was Ronaldo and there was Quaresma just wanted the ball as much as possible and enjoying doing their stuffs on the pitch. As Queiroz interview revealed, we wanted to get all Ronaldinho, Quaresma and Ronaldo, and leaving Ronaldo at Sporting for further development. Losing out on both Quaresma and Ronaldinho, being without Beckham replacement, and that impressive performance in friendly accelerate that transfer. Adapting to new football culture and “living in Manchester” was tougher even for experienced players, let alone a teenage player.
Mbappe enjoys less culture shock when broke through and continued his development at PSG. Also the generations of Mbappe got the benefit of seeing role model like Ronaldo and Messi to strive for Mbappe was more “cultured”/ Ronaldo being more “raw”.