Yes I agree NOW we have in my opinion great talent around us but the unfortunate thing for Ronaldo is it is in the end of his career.
But that is kind of my point. If you listen to the hype/read the headlines/put too much stock in the marketing/pr then you get a very distorted view of what is actually going on.
I think both teams in 2014 were lacking. They were not very well balanced.
You have got a really, really good bunch of players there to make an outstanding team. Next Europeans / World Cup will be very interesting.
No one can fully win something on there own in football because it is not basketball but you can have a serious or major impact. And without Ronaldo they don’t get to the final that’s my point.
I think so too but my only fear is we don’t have a player that can make AS BIG a difference as a Ronaldo. By that I mean a guy who can decide a Game on his own.
I agree but you can also have a player who undoes all that good work leaving you with too much to do.
I do but I think you may under estimate him. If Pep thinks he is the best player in the world right now then it is probably worth listening to. He made you tick in the Nations Cup did he not?
Oh absolutely. Was the first time he finally looked the part in the national team but I think we need a guy to put the chances away because Bernardo will be the one creating them.
And the rest of us Ronaldo fans? We're not watching games?
Agreed and with no disrespect to the wonderfully talented Deco I think he may be a level up.
Then can you stick to doing that? It's a constant shift of goal posts "Messi's trophies mean more" , "Erm no Ronaldo has won these trophies" , "okay yeah but just your eyes, Messi is better".
If you pick George Best over Ronaldo, that's fine for me. Everyone opinion is different.
Uuufff I am not ready to say that YET as you said Deco was so talented. BUT Bernardo has the potential to maybe go up a level on him.
You are right it is such a personal choice and maybe I will think differently when Ronaldo eventually retires. History tends to be kinder compared to when we are in the here and now. Best is the reason why I supported Man Utd in the first place. I saw him play and I was mesmerized. Just wanted him to get the ball so I could see him float across the turf again and drop his shoulder and whoosh he was gone. Just as one with the ball, so fluid.
Just out of interest have you seen him play much in the PL this season?
I have I only really watch the Portuguese league and the EPL which is why I said he for sure has the Potential to pass Deco. One more season at this same level and he is there.
I haven't been shifting goal posts so I don't understand why you aimed that question at me. I'm not even a Messi fan either, I just think he's better than Ronaldo, that doesn't equal "Messi fan".
Well if you think that then I have to judge your understanding of football as narrow minded. You can't pick a certain mold of a footballer and then put it down as "no question".
That team would be orgasmic. I would pay a lot of money to be able to see both of them play a full season at there best with each other.
Err, okay then? I don't care how you judge my understanding of football. In (almost) every major ability or category I value in footballers, Messi trumps Ronaldo. "The ability to win football games" is such an arbitrary way to decide something, as it could swing the other way every other game.
Deco and class definately go together. Just wonderful to watch in his prime and such a delicate weight of pass. Several years since he retired but feels like yesterday.I have I only really watch the Portuguese league and the EPL which is why I said he for sure has the Potential to pass Deco. One more season at this same level and he is there.
OR I could just be being way too nostalgic in allowing Bernardo to pass him which I can admit. Bernardo is one of the rare players that even though he Is from Benfica I cant help but like him. The type of player a coach loves.
Deco was just class though
Biased has much broader sense than nationality. I am not a Portuguese nor an Argentinian, if I chose Ronaldo over Messi, does that means I am not biased? Of course not. Everyone has its own favouritism, for example, some may favour natural talent/skill/flair over hardwork/determination/decisiveness, and vice versa. Once you have your own favouritism in your mind, you are already biased, even when the hardwork one beat the talented one, it doesn't matter, because you've already make up your mind, the talented one is always better, before the match even start.
No apologies needed you are more than welcome to join this debate.
completely agree. I watched them both countless times; Ronaldo at United, Ronaldo at Madrid, Ronaldo for Portugal, Messi at Barca & Argentina and finally both of them on the same pitch - and not once, not a single time I thought I was looking at superior player in Ronnie. it was always a simple answer for me. I don't mind debating about what someone value more and how important is this and how important is that, but on question who is more talented, more complete and simply a better player of the two there was always a quick, simple answer for me. if anything, the main reason there's literally no debates in this thread about their skills and attributes is precisely because there's nothing to debate about.
Listen in the end of the day to each their one you know.Deco and class definately go together. Just wonderful to watch in his prime and such a delicate weight of pass. Several years since he retired but feels like yesterday.
Bernardo has been sensational this season. The only reason they did not miss Kevin De Bruyne was because he filled the void. Right forward, central midfield - he played it all. First name on the team sheet. Some wonderfully crafted goals as well. He runs .. lots - 13km in the crucial game v Liverpool which they needed to win to put their title back on track and which they duly did. I wish he was English.
So we may disagree on the greatest but at least we both agree Deco was class
That is an interesting point and one I have not considered. I like both qualities. I admire James Milner for instance because he is the essence of hardwork/determination but I guess I want the very best to have a little bit more than that. I want them to have a level of ability that I could never hope to achieve even if I worked myself to the brink. Lampard was another player who got every last drop talent out of himself but I never warmed to him as much as I did the more natural Gerrard. There could be truth in your comment. I can't promise it is enough to change my mind but it certainly something to ponder.
It is fun debating ... it is huge respect to both players that there are enough people on both sides who care enough to state their case.Listen in the end of the day to each their one you know.
I think Ronaldo and you think Messi which is fine thats what makes this topic and Sport fun. No hard feelings with anyone.
And Yes! we agree on both Deco and Silva so there is some common ground
Regarding Bernado he was great at Monaco as well and in his first year in City but this year...That dude just went up to another level that I was not sure he had. Kid has an engine as you pointed out and never stops running . What solidified him for me was that he was finally able to translate his club form into the national team as shown in the Nations cup and thats how I knew we had a PLAYER on our hands.
Lots of players coming up who can make a difference. Rumors in Portugal are that Porto are interested in Bruma who in Portugal would have the platform to turn his career around. I rate him highly he is very naturally talented but his Agent seems to be doing his best to ruin his career.
Anyways I digress back on topic
But it doesn't. Ronaldo btw has better long shots, better shooting in the box, better strength, better heading, better stamina and better volleys if you want to talk specifics.
You cant answer a question by asking another question. It means you don't want to engage in what's being asked. He specifically asked about the many below performances Cristiano has had in finals and him walking away with trophies because his teammates have bailed him out. How often has that happened with Leo? So often, in finals, if he doesn't perform, he isn't getting the trophy, Cristiano so much.
Never ever Rated Renato. Like literally not one bit. The only good thing about him is Physically he is a "beast"....it ends there because he is lacking in everything else to make it at a top level.
That was some run - it was like watching a kid playing with younger kids in the playground. Brilliant burst of pace especially after having done all the ducking and weaving - great stamina.
Ya at 24 and at Porto I think he would have all the right pieces to get back on track I think it would be a great move though I wish he went to Sporting instead
Well I like Ronaldo for another reason, when he is 19-24, he is actually one of the most electrifying and talented player I've ever watched.
There are so many players I wish we had got that we didn't and also keeping Ronaldo would have been good although we knew he wanted to go and he left on the best of terms. There is so much money in the game and the European competitions have all expanded so players have a far wider choice. You only have to look at the number of players that went to play in China to know money does talk.Ya at 24 and at Porto I think he would have all the right pieces to get back on track I think it would be a great move though I wish he went to Sporting instead
To be fair England have some talent coming through as well and you guys have done well the past few tournaments. I think there are a few National teams who are starting to come all at the same time England,Netherlands, France,Portugal, and Belgium is still around. Germany is always in the mix too.
Ronaldo will 100% go the Euro. I think as for the World Cup he would 37 at that point and that might be where he cant make it. Though for the WC it would not surprise me to see him get called up and have a super sub role coming off the bench or something along those lines. Calling up the greatest Portuguese player to ever do it for one last rodeo.
(I know probably not).At age of 29-34, is actually the Ronaldo we all know, great goalscorer, a machine, probably the most impactful and successful player in the game, but less talented, less skilful, and getting less involved in build-up play too. I understand why people don't rate this version of Ronaldo. But at the same time, he has evolved into the most determined, most clutch, and a truly big game player in the world. This version of Ronaldo, has in fact, given me most wow moments, out of any players I've watched in the past. That 17 CL run, scoring 2 or 3 goals in every match, from quarters, to semi, to final, against the best team with best defence in Europe, is truly insane. And then of course the Euro, the CL three-peat, the 5th Ballon D'or etc. Even in the recent year, that bicycle kick vs Juventus, that hattrick vs Spain, and that hattrick vs Atletico, and most recently, that hattrick vs Switzerland, left me with my jaw dropped.
