Cristiano Ronaldo is better than Leo Messi. Discuss.

[Viazon]

Relevant.

[prophet]

No he isn't, end of discussion.

Prove me wrong.

I mean Messi pretty much led his team to the World Cup by himself. Argentina was a trash squad and had no business to be even close to the finals. I'm pretty sure Messi was injured during that run too. Meanwhile Ronaldo choked and disappeared with Portugal.

Ronaldo has always benefited from star players on his squad which is why he gets exposed when things have to fully fall under his shoulders. I know Messi's had some help in Barca but Ronaldo has gotten pampered with some of the greatest players to aid him.

This is without question the most ludicrous argument I've ever seen on this topic.

Messi led his team to the World Cup by himself? Preposterous. The Argentina squad is full of world class players and they coasted into the tournament - Portugal on the other hand had to qualify via a playoff vs Sweeden in a game they very nearly lost were it not for Ronaldo, who hit a hat-trick. If you honestly believe that the Portugal squad is better than the Argentine squad then there is no hope for you.

Beside from one or two important goals in the group stage Messi was virtually a non-existant in the World Cup and often went missing in the bigger knockout games, including the final when you'd have been forgiven if you didn't know he was on the pitch - so to say he lead his 'trash' squad to the final makes me think you didn't really watch the games.

Ronaldo has always benefited from star players on his team? Really? Did he have star players on his team when he made a name for himself at Sporting Lisbon? No he didn't, he stood out on merit and secured a move to England before later moving to Spain. Messi on the other hand debuted in a Barcelona team that was already the best team in the world, surrounded by the likes of Ronaldinho before later the likes of Xavi, Iniesta, Zlatan, Eto'o, Henry and even now with Neymar and Suarez. So for you to state that Ronaldo has been 'pampered with some of the worlds greatest players' is quite frankly ridiculous when the same applies for Messi in a greater quantity.

[Romo]

Ronaldo has always benefited from star players on his team? Really? Did he have star players on his team when he made a name for himself at Sporting Lisbon?

Personally I disagree with you saying Ronaldo 'made a name' for himself at Sporting, he was a kid with potential when he signed for United and then he made a name for himself at Man United by working hard and training hard to become the player he is.

he stood out on merit and secured a move to England before later moving to Spain. Messi on the other hand debuted in a Barcelona team that was already the best team in the world, surrounded by the likes of Ronaldinho before later the likes of Xavi, Iniesta, Zlatan, Eto'o, Henry and even now with Neymar and Suarez.

Ronaldo stood out in the youth ranks at Sporting the same way Messi stood out in the same way in the Barca youth ranks, he played a lot at the youth set up and then played one season for them at 17 but since that one season at Sporting first team Ronaldo has also been littered with world class talent aswell... Ronaldo debuted into a United side with van Nistelrooy, Giggs, Scholes, Neville, Keane & the living god Djemba-Djemba then Ronaldo's first season at Madrid he had Kaka, Benzema, Alonso, Higuaín, Raul, Casillas, Ramos and even now with Bale, Rodriguez & Kroos so you could argue both players debuted to sides surrounded by world class talent.

Both of them made names for themselves at World class teams surrounded by world class players

[PorkChop]

Personally I disagree with you saying Ronaldo 'made a name' for himself at Sporting, he was a kid with potential when he signed for United and then he made a name for himself at Man United by working hard and training hard to become the player he is.

Ronaldo was considered one of the hottest prospects in Europe during his time at Sporting, which is why United signed him (Arsenal and Real Madrid were also after him at this point). He may have not been a household name, but he built a name for himself as one of the top prospects in the football world at that time.

Ronaldo stood out in the youth ranks at Sporting the same way Messi stood out in the same way in the Barca youth ranks, he played a lot at the youth set up and then played one season for them at 17 but since that one season at Sporting first team Ronaldo has also been littered with world class talent aswell... Ronaldo debuted into a United side with van Nistelrooy, Giggs, Scholes, Neville, Keane & the living god Djemba-Djemba then Ronaldo's first season at Madrid he had Kaka, Benzema, Alonso, Higuaín, Raul, Casillas, Ramos and even now with Bale, Rodriguez & Kroos so you could argue both players debuted to sides surrounded by world class talent.

Both of them made names for themselves at World class teams surrounded by world class players

Van Nistelrooy and Scholes, I'll give you that - but Giggs, Neville and Keane, world class? Perhaps in 1999 - long before Ronaldo joined United.

Besides, you might want to check your history here. Ronaldo began his Man United prime in the 06-07 season, by which point Van Nistelrooy had been at Real Madrid for a year, and Roy Keane was retired!

[Romo]

Messi scored a header today so your header point is now invalid

[Kyle]

I would take Ronaldo over Messi.

And yes, Argentina had a squad pulled by Lionel. He played with Aguero, Higuain, Di Maria, Mascherano, Pastore, Lamela, Lavezzi... Yeah, what a bunch of nobodies. CR7 has Nani and Moutinho.

[PorkChop]

Ronaldo now has 3 hat tricks in 4 games, and has equalled the record for hat tricks scored in La Liga.

He also single-handedly averages more goals per game (2.17) than 91 of the 97 clubs in Europe's top 5 leagues.

[Kyle]

Cristianooooooooooooooooo is on fieh!

[PorkChop]

Ronaldo now has 20 goals in 13 games. He just scored a beauty against Liverpool.

Messi who?

[Kyle]

I don't know how he shot the ball into the net like that. Pure skill.

[AkydefGoldberg]

First goal was sublime. Exquisite finish.

[prophet]

Messi doesn't pay his taxes.

That's all for today.