Pele has, albeit in the third-person, claimed that he remains the greatest footballer of all time: “For me Pele is the best. Nobody has done more than Pele. He’s the only player to be World Champion at 17, winning three World Cups and score over 1,208 goals.” Based on these assertions, it is hard to argue with the Brazilian, but that was then and this is now.
We currently enjoy football consciously aware of two individuals whose abilities surpass the realms of physical human achievement. What’s more, they each play for teams on opposing sides of the most ferocious footballing rivalry of all time, and are therefore continually measured against each other, often splitting public opinion 50-50. It is generally considered that Lionel Messi is the better of the two, but Cristiano Ronaldo’s physical attributes regularly see him chosen above the Argentine in hypothetical polls, and this week, Jamie Carragher even recognized the former Manchester United forward’s talents, claiming: “He’s the perfect build for a footballer – he’s big, quick and strong and that makes him the perfect fit for the Premier League. He also has phenomenal ability and that just tips the balance [ahead of Messi].”
But which of the two can actually claim to be the greatest? The most important characteristics they share include an undeniable propensity for goal-scoring and assisting, but despite their similar written records, they are evidently very different footballers. No matter how many spectacular goals Ronaldo scores, he always appears to be one step-over behind Messi, who has now scored 52 goals overall this season compared with the Portuguese’s 45. Although this statistic fails to accurately distinguish between the players’ qualities, Messi’s humble attitude, often reflected in his naturally joyful goal celebrations, in contrast to Ronaldo’s choreographed bravado, affects the affinity most spectators feel towards the two.
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Although most individual accolades, such as the Ballon D’Or, are decided on a handful of important matches that take place during a 60 game+ season, it wouldn’t be fair to asses the two based on the enduring quadruple of Real Madrid v Barcelona matches. Ronaldo cancelled out Messi’s penalty in the La Liga tie with a 90th minute spot-kick of his own, resulting in shared points but an 8-point Catalan advantage at the summit of the League. Four days later, Ronaldo, despite absurdly constant scrutiny of his mentality in ‘big games,’ headed an extra-time winner to secure a first Copa Del Rey trophy for Los Merengues since 1993 and Real’s first win against Barca since May 2008. Wednesday night’s Champions’ League first leg at the Bernabeu will now of course be remembered for an outstanding Messi brace, scored following a ridiculous series of incidents where grown athletes displayed the physical pain threshold of haemophiliac baby pandas. Pepe, who was unjustly dismissed for a ball-winning challenge on Dani Alves, had excelled in the defensive midfield role he had occupied for the two previous games and his absence may have created the passage which opened up for Messi as he slotted in his second, and probably tie-deciding, goal.
But such incidents cannot be used to discredit class, and Messi expressed his in exemplary fashion on Wednesday. Pele should be aware that his status is under threat, but not until the careers of Messi and Ronaldo are finished, because the true test of a player’s talent lies in the legacy he leaves behind, so for now, just enjoy them while they’re here.
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