It is always a subject of debate, when it comes to who's a better player - Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi? Here are five reasons why Ronaldo is better.
Ronaldo has scored more goals for his country
Cristiano Ronaldo is Portugal's all-time leading goalscorer, with 51 goals in his country's colours. Lionel Messi has scored 44 goals and has largely disappointed at international level. Ronaldo always gives his all for his country and is frequently carrying his team, while Messi has failed to take advantage of the wealth of talented teammates alongside him. Ronaldo is also better in major competitions, with eight goals in 24 appearances at the World Cup and the European Championships, while Messi has only three goals in the World Cup and Copa America in 18 matches.
Ronaldo is better in the air
To be considered the best player of your generation, you need to have a complete set of skills, and Ronaldo is considered by many as the best player in the air in the world, alongside the plaudits he's won for his incredible ability while using his feet. Messi, who is much shorter than Ronaldo cannot rise nearly as high as the Portuguese and subsequently is incapable of getting on the end of crosses with Cristiano's high level of proficiency. Ronaldo has scored six times as many goals with his head compared to his Argentine counterpart.
Ronaldo is better at Free kicks
Cristiano has the ability to put a dead-ball in the back of the net from anywhere within 40 yards of the goal. He has scored 41 goals from free-kicks in his career, while Messi has only scored 15. Ronaldo's ability to provide that kind of impact makes him a far greater threat than his Argentine counterpart.
Ronaldo is a proven goalscorer in two leagues
Cristiano Ronaldo won the European golden boot in 2007/08 after scoring 31 goals in 31 starts with Manchester United during his time in the Premier League. He won it again in 2010/11 with Real Madrid in La Liga after scoring 40 goals in 34 Premier League appearances, and then reclaimed the award last season with 31 goals in 30 appearances. Messi, meanwhile, has won it three times with Barcelona in La Liga, in 2010, 2012 and 2013, with 34 goals in 35 appearances, 50 goals in 37 appearances and 46 goals in 32 appearances respectively. However, he has not proved, like Ronaldo has, that he can do it with different teams and in different leagues.
Ronaldo's minutes per goal ratio is better
Cristiano Ronaldo's minute per goal ratio in his Real Madrid career, since arriving in 2009, shows that he scores a goal every 79 minutes. Messi's record with Barcelona, on the other hand, shows that he only scores once every 89 minutes.
And for the above reasons, I think it presents a good argument as to why Ronaldo is a better player than Lionel Messi, so the argument should be settled with that. Ronaldo is better than Messi.
Do you think Cristiano Ronaldo is better than Lionel Messi?
