Cristiano Ronaldo - Performances (wums will be thread banned)

[Eddy_JukeZ]

Comparing Ronaldo to RVN is ridiculous and not at all objective.

Ronaldo is the far superior player.

But agree that he's a level below the all-time greats.

 

[TheNewEra]

This is very harsh. Firstly he scored big goals for United at crucial times. I haven't followed him all that closely at Madrid but I'm sure he's done the same there.

The comparison with RvN is way off. Even at his best RVN was slower, weaker, one footed and not as good in the air. Ruud never scored a goal from outside the area for us!

You're right that Ronaldo has a weakness to his game, he's neglected a big part of what made him great. Teamplay. Nearly all players have a missing part though. Let's not pretend Iniesta doesn't have a weakness. The guy's scored 34 goals for Barcelona in his entire career. For an attacking player of his calibre, playing for that team, it's piss poor.

Iniesta is an enabler though, he makes so many chances, and let's not forget he's scored in a world cup final.

Ronaldo is the opposite he takes from the team and wants to finish chances, yet he falls short in finals, Iniesta is a GOAT midfielder, he's by the end of his career possibly going to eclipse Zidané that's saying something.

Ronaldo is one of those players you go "maybe if he was born in an different portugal era", but he's not somebody you think is going to take you to a final.

 

[totaalvoetbal]

My 2 problems with him are .

He's the most arrogant and selfish player I have ever seen. He moans and blames his team mates when things aren't going his way.

Secondly he's not in the same tier as the greats of the game. He honestly doesn't have a patch on some of the greats of the game and I have to consistently put up with people telling me he's better than this player and that player when he just isn't.

Gerd Muller scored just as frequently as Ronaldo does and I never hear people him calling him one of the greatest?

Off the pitch Ronaldo is quite nice I believe but as a player he makes it so easy for people to hate him.

Exactly
my point. I don't care about his attitude off the pitch tbh. He is an absolute professional and looks after himself. He is one of the greatest goal scorers but he is simply not on Messi, Maradonas or Cruijffs level. Even at United where he performed well on the big stage he buckled too many ties and his performances dipped against elite opposition.

 

[Vialli_92]

This is very harsh. Firstly he scored big goals for United at crucial times. I haven't followed him all that closely at Madrid but I'm sure he's done the same there.

The comparison with RvN is way off. Even at his best RVN was slower, weaker, one footed and not as good in the air. Ruud never scored a goal from outside the area for us!

You're right that Ronaldo has a weakness to his game, he's neglected a big part of what made him great. Teamplay. Nearly all players have a missing part though. Let's not pretend Iniesta doesn't have a weakness. The guy's scored 34 goals for Barcelona in his entire career. For an attacking player of his calibre, playing for that team, it's piss poor.

You're only looking at one stat to judge Iniesta on? His game is not based on goals so why should you expect him to score more? He consistently performs at the highest level and his team play is second to none.

 

[Pexbo]

You're only looking at one stat to judge Iniesta on? His game is not based on goals so why should you expect him to score more? He consistently performs at the highest level and his team play is second to none.

Did you read his post?

 

[Vialli_92]

Did you read his post?

Yes, did you?

 

[Obiorahking_]

Ronaldo and Gerd Mulller comparisons are ridiculous. Are we supposed to forget how "exciting" Ronaldo was before his transformation as a player?
Not to mention, Ronaldo has a far better goals to game ratio than Muller....

 

[Dobbs]

Iniesta is an enabler though, he makes so many chances, and let's not forget he's scored in a world cup final.

Ronaldo is the opposite he takes from the team and wants to finish chances, yet he falls short in finals, Iniesta is a GOAT midfielder, he's by the end of his career possibly going to eclipse Zidané that's saying something.

He is a great enabler and Ronaldo is a great goalscorer. Yet you criticise the latter for specialising in one area. Can't have it both ways. If you expect Ronaldo to create for others then you should expect Iniesta to score more goals.

You're only looking at one stat to judge Iniesta on? His game is not based on goals so why should you expect him to score more? He consistently performs at the highest level and his team play is second to none.

Of course I'm not judging Iniesta on one stat, what gave you that impression? I said goals are his one weakness. He's scored a bizarrely low amount for a player of his talent in maybe the greatest club team of all time.

His game isn't based on goals though that's right. So why isn't it OK to use the same excuse for Ronaldo? His game isn't based on getting involved with the buildup. He scores loads of goals instead. Double standards this.

For what it's worth I preferred the 06 Ronaldo. That doesn't change the above though.

 

[Vialli_92]

He is a great enabler and Ronaldo is a great goalscorer. Yet you criticise the latter for specialising in one area. Can't have it both ways. If you expect Ronaldo to create for others then you should expect Iniesta to score more goals.



Of course I'm not judging Iniesta on one stat, what gave you that impression? I said goals are his one weakness. He's scored a bizarrely low amount for a player of his talent in maybe the greatest club team of all time.

His game isn't based on goals though that's right. So why isn't it OK to use the same excuse for Ronaldo? His game isn't based on getting involved with the buildup. He scores loads of goals instead. Double standards this.

For what it's worth I preferred the 06 Ronaldo. That doesn't change the above though.

Well for starters because Ronaldo has won 3 Balon d'ors and being vastly over rated by people who only see his highlights or don't even watch him play at all and see his goal stats.

Iniesta doesn't get enough recognition if you really think about it being motm in a WC, Euro and CL final cosistently being one of the best midfielders of his generation he is definitely under rated.

 

[TheNewEra]

He is a great enabler and Ronaldo is a great goalscorer. Yet you criticise the latter for specialising in one area. Can't have it both ways. If you expect Ronaldo to create for others then you should expect Iniesta to score more goals.

One isn't in the box 90% of the game and doesn't take free kicks.

Where as one takes all free kicks, is in the box and also starts from deeper positions?

A centre-midfielder isn't supposed to score that many, where-as a forward has the best of both worlds. Iniesta has performed in critical games and that's a stark contrast too.

Iniesta has a better footballing brain face it, he doesn't pull shots every 5 minutes, he picks a pass, it's not a question of "scoring more" it's "making the best decision for the team and winning games".

Is Iniesta supposed to find his way in the box with Messi, Henry, Suarez, Neymar, Messi? he's there to pull the strings.

Ronaldo let's not forget is a LF that runs inside as an inverted forward, he should be creating chances and carrying his nation. we're talking about a player who is often brought in the same discussions as Messi.

 

[Obiorahking_]

ell for starters because Ronaldo has won 3 Balon d'ors

That means nothing to you? That is overrated?
Having a Ballon D Or means you were the best player on the planet out of everybody for that entire year. The fact that he has 4 Ballon D Or's, something that has only been accomplished by 4 other people should say something to you.

 

[Pexbo]

Yes, did you?

He said every player has a weakness and highlighted Iniesta's lack of goals throughout his career as his weakness. It's not judging Iniesta on one stat, it's highlighting that despite being the best attacking midfielder of his generation in a team that scores a couple hundred goals a year, he's managed just 32 goals in his career. That is where his game is not as strong as others - goalscoring. For Ronaldo, his weakness is in another area. That's clearly what his point was, he's not "judging Iniesta on one stat" in any way shape or form.

 

[Obiorahking_]

creating chances

Leads his team in assists, but shit, for all I care he is a selfish pompous bastard that only cares about himself.

Don't try and nullify his assists either. An assist is a pass leading up to a goal=point of creating chances.

 

[Boycott]

He'll win the Ballon d'Or this year based on a champions league win where he was dreadful.

Still laughable how he could go to any team and score hat tricks according to Fergie, yet still waiting for a big stage moment where you think... "what can you do to stop this guy".

There a certain argentine we all know that you can prepare tactics, train all week, mark 3 on 1 and he can slice you open multiple times a game, Ronaldo feels like since that 07/08 and the first two seasons at Real Madrid... he's kind of not been a performer.

Output goals wise, great, top tier, but all round performance, not really.

Aye that's a good point

"he can play for Doncaster, Stockport County, QPR and score hattricks"

yet he fails to turn up at the big international stage. Doesn't dominate in the biggest games. If he can't do it when his support cast are off game what chance has he got playing for those teams SAF mentioned since the days of Ronaldo picking the ball up and terrorising defences, making chances and being a non-stop threat are long gone.

 

[Obiorahking_]

Let's look at CR, flopped in EURO 04 final,

He was 18 years old, the fact that he was a vital part to that team at such a young age is remarkable

 

[totaalvoetbal]

Leads his team in assists, but shit, for all I care he is a selfish pompous bastard that only cares about himself.

Don't try and nullify his assists either. An assist is a pass leading up to a goal=point of creating chances.

So did Gerd Muller. He was the highest assist player in Bayern almost every season he was there...noone is comparing him to Pele and Cruijff..

 

[Vialli_92]

He said every player has a weakness and highlighted Iniesta's lack of goals throughout his career as his weakness. It's not judging Iniesta on one stat, it's highlighting that despite being the best attacking midfielder of his generation in a team that scores a couple hundred goals a year, he's managed just 32 goals in his career. That is where his game is not as strong as others - goalscoring. For Ronaldo, his weakness is in another area. That's clearly what his point was, he's not "judging Iniesta on one stat" in any way shape or form.

Yes but Iniesta doesn't have to score the goals because of the forwards he has played with over the years. As the poster above my he said he always makes the best decision for the team.

 

[Dobbs]

Well for starters because Ronaldo has won 3 Balon d'ors and being vastly over rated by people who only see his highlights or don't even watch him play at all and see his goal stats.

Iniesta doesn't get enough recognition if you really think about it being motm in a WC, Euro and CL final cosistently being one of the best midfielders of his generation he is definitely under rated.

Iniesta gets plenty of recognition. He's widely regraded as a great.

With regards to this conversation the awards are irrelevant. You're critiscing Ronaldo for having only one role but excusing Iniesta from scoring goals because he's such a good supplier. It's just double standards.

Zidane scored about the same number of goals in half the games for Madrid. In a poorer team. Beckham score nearly double in much less for United. Neither were in the team for their goals.

Iniesta's main role is as an enabler and he's brilliant but let's not pretend he doesn't have a weakness to his game.Just like Ronaldo does.

 

[Vialli_92]

Except under the old format Messi would not have it in 2010 and 2012 and CR wouldn't have won it in '13. It has now become a glorified golden boot ever since FIFA combined it's pointless award with it.

Pretty much it's a glorified golden boot. However in 2012 I don't remember anyone being better than Messi?

 

[Obiorahking_]

glorified golden boot

So why hasn't Ronaldo won it throughout the past 5 years then?

 

[Dobbs]

Yes but Iniesta doesn't have to score the goals because of the forwards he has played with over the years. As the poster above my he said he always makes the best decision for the team.

Well then equally Ronaldo doesn't have to create the goals because he's got Bale, Modric, Kroos etc to do that. You must see the massive contradiction here.

 

[totaalvoetbal]

He was 18 years old, the fact that he was a vital part to that team at such a young age is remarkable

CL 09, CL 14, CL 16...meanwhile Iniesta was motm in WC final, EURO final and CL final. Both of them were on the same picth in 2009 when CR was supposedly the best and Iniesta embarrassed him. CRs own teammate called Iniesta the best.

 

[PvsNP]

He was 18 years old, the fact that he was a vital part to that team at such a young age is remarkable

How could anyone hold that against him? Come on now.

 

[Vialli_92]

Iniesta gets plenty of recognition. He's widely regraded as a great.

With regards to this conversation the awards are irrelevant. You're critiscing Ronaldo for having only one role but excusing Iniesta from scoring goals because he's such a good supplier. It's just double standards.

Zidane scored about the same number of goals in half the games for Madrid. In a poorer team. Beckham score nearly double in much less for United. Neither were in the team for their goals.

Iniesta's main role is as an enabler and he's brilliant but let's not pretend he doesn't have a weakness to his game.Just like Ronaldo does.

It's not double standards because Ronaldo has a team built around him to score goals. He is a passenger in almost every game he plays in due to his play style.

When his team have their backs up against the wall and are not having everything going their way you really think Ronaldo will put a shift in for the team and try to be a team player or will he just wait around the box for something to happen rather than being the one to make something happen?

 

[Vialli_92]

Well then equally Ronaldo doesn't have to create the goals because he's got Bale, Modric, Kroos etc to do that. You must see the massive contradiction here.

But when Messi is putting up similar numbers and doing much more than just goal hanging for most of his matches is Ronaldo not being over rated?

Ronaldo is being called one of the greatest when he simply isn't due to his goalscoring and non existent team play.

Also if Iniesta was to be more selfish and try and score more his team probably wouldn't be as good due to Iniesta not being able to distribute the ball better and get others into better positions?

 

[VorZakone]

He's great, hell he's in the top-tier as far as I'm concerned. But still slightly below the very best.

 

[Obiorahking_]

How could anyone hold that against him? Come on now.

On God this Ronaldo hate is becoming crazy.

 

[Obiorahking_]

He's great, hell he's in the top-tier as far as I'm concerned. But still slightly below the very best.

My thoughts exactly. I have him around 7th to 4th best ever in my opinion.

 

[Obiorahking_]

CL 09, CL 14, CL 16...meanwhile Iniesta was motm in WC final, EURO final and CL final. Both of them were on the same picth in 2009 when CR was supposedly the best and Iniesta embarrassed him. CRs own teammate called Iniesta the best.

Was he as great in those games like he should have? Alright maybe not. But who played the biggest part in Real Madrid reaching that stage? Ronaldo.

 

[Mourinhonista]

Flopped in thegame in ROme vs Barcelona, Flopped against Atletico and then Flopped against Atleti again? When his team needed him? Every Madrid player scored their pen. Yes at United he was a good dribbler but even there against elite opposition he didn't do well.

Barcelona semis in 08, Milan semis 07 etc. He is a good goal scorewr but my problem is when he is called the best footballer when he simply isn't. As I've said beofre, the level he has perfomed at over the last 4- 5 years is no higher than RvN at his best. Was RvN ever called the best player? That is my only gripe. His highest level is nowhere near Ronaldinho's, Messi's, Xavi's, Iniesta etc He needs his team to supply him with chance after chance to be effective. He is not in the same category as Cruijff, Maradona and Messi. Those 3 could be motm without hitting the net. When CR doesn't score, his contribution is almost always nothing.

There's extra pressure when stepping up for the final penalty. I don't agree with your assumption that he was poor in this year's final, 'whoscored' gave him a 7.8 and supports my opinion. But whatever floats you boat, mate.

Turning to Rom 09, BBC:

'Ronaldo, for all his obvious frustrations that ended almost inevitably in a yellow card for a late barge on Carles Puyol, never stopped running but this was not to be his night or United's.'

I wouldn't call that poor, if i remember correctly he was a constant threat. Agree to disagree.

Did RvN manage to score more than 50 goals in six different seasons? I'm not even asking whether it happened consecutively. So i simply disagree with your assumption that over the last 4-5 years his level wasn't better. Ronaldo had 11 assists in La Liga in 15/16, that's RvN's record during his whole time in the Premier League. How was RvN's shooting from outside of the box, could he beat his man in midfield, how about setting up chances for himself?! Maybe Ronaldo has regressed a bit, but he was so much more than only a goal scorer or like some people might call him a 'poacher'.

'He needs his team to supply him with chance after chance to be effective.'

With all due respect, doesn't it count for every player? Football is still a team game and having a guy like Busquets who always has your back is an advantage i wouldn't easily discard.

'When CR doesn't score, his contribution is almost always nothing.'

Every opponent knows how good Ronaldo is. He will always occupy at least two defenders because of his intelligent timed runs. Overall that stuff creates space for your team mates. Simple as.

Frankly i haven't seen Cruijff and Maradona, so i can't compare them to Ronaldo. At his best Messi is the better player, okay, but i don't agree when comparing Iniesta or Xavi to him. They all have different skill sets, but i don't think they are superior to Ronaldo's. But that's just my opinion. How can one convince the other one? Simply can't, so before we're making the rounds, i'm just going to leave this here.

So long!

 

[Dobbs]

It's not double standards because Ronaldo has a team built around him to score goals. He is a passenger in almost every game he plays in due to his play style.

When his team have their backs up against the wall and are not having everything going their way you really think Ronaldo will put a shift in for the team and try to be a team player or will he just wait around the box for something to happen rather than being the one to make something happen?

Well you're moving on to different points now. None of which I agree with.

Look I agree that because Ronaldo has become just a goalscorer he shouldn't be up there with Messi, Pele etc. However it's going too far to use the same reasoning to put him below a player such as Iniesta. A player who also seriously lacks in one area. If Ronaldo has been helped by great creators then Iniesta has been helped by great goalscorers.

 

[Amar__]

He looked so nervous during the penalty, I thought he was going to shit his pants during the penalty. Really weird from him, never saw him like that.

 

[Scarlett Dracarys]

It's sad how people just focus on his negatives rather than his positives. He is admittedly easy to dislike but some of you in here are downright disrespectful. He's not an ordinary player and those who look at him without judging will always admire his strengths rather than focus on his weaknesses.

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

Ronaldo's teamplay is being underrated in here.


I'm not suggesting he's near Messi, but to define him as a poacher and entirely reliant on service is wrong.

 

[Womp]

Ronaldo's teamplay is being underrated in here.


I'm not suggesting he's near Messi, but to define him as a poacher and entirely reliant on service is wrong.

The fact that you had to go as far back as 2014 in a game where Real Madrid completely dominated to validate your point doesn't do your argument much justice.

 

[3KDré]

Ronaldo's teamplay is being underrated in here.


I'm not suggesting he's near Messi, but to define him as a poacher and entirely reliant on service is wrong.

A mere 1 instance two years ago against a poor team with a goal and team play that really isn't that good.

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

The fact that you had to go as far back as 2014 in a game where Real Madrid completely dominated to validate your point doesn't do your argument much justice.

Well it was the first goal that popped in my mind. And perhaps Ronaldo contributed to Real Madrid's domination that game?


The top 2 goals of his last season were hardly tap ins.

 

[Jerch]

For me he is among the very best. In his younger years he was the most exciting player I saw, when he got older he reinvented himself as a goalscorer. To judge him on this displays for Portugal is stupid, he had a long season, he is not completely fit and isn't young anymore.

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

A mere 1 instance two years ago against a poor team with a goal and team play that really isn't that good.

I thought the argument was that Ronaldo's teamplay in general throughout his career was poor/lacking, so why does it matter if it was 2 years ago?

 

[Obiorahking_]

I thought the argument was that Ronaldo's teamplay in general throughout his career was poor/lacking, so why does it matter if it was 2 years ago?

I wouldn't pay that aspect any mind, especially when he has set up most off his teammates goals, higher than anybody else on the team. If a player is selfish, he won't have 11 assists. You don't even have to go in depth in his play really.