Messi or Ronaldo

Ah, the age old question. Who is the best player in the world? Simple right, Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. It is not as simple as that especially since the two are very different from each other. Messi is short and agile, while Ronaldo is tall and athletic. The fact is they don't even play the same position on the pitch. Ronaldo and Messi have different play styles with their respective teams as well. Comparing the two of them is like comparing an apple to a door knob. There is not that much in common.

Let's talk another sport for a second. In American football there is a quarter back which serves them same purpose for both teams. Lead the offensive play. You could compare Tom Brady and Peyton Manning since they both played this role. You could also compare the stats more accurately since both had the chance to have the same stats. Ronaldo is primarily a striker, while Messi plays either on the wing or at an attacking midfielder role. Ronaldo most of the time has more shots than Messi, but Messi would have more critical passes.

Another stat people compare is the trophies that Messi and Ronaldo have won with their teams. Messi has won more, but he did play with the golden generation with Barcelona. That team is starting to dissipate and a new generation is coming in.  Barcelona are not as good of a team as they were three or more years prior. Real Madrid are on the rise, and are starting to add more trophies to their collection. Teams rise and fall. Real Madrid and Barcelona are no exceptions. They are competing for the same trophies as each other so when one has a good year the other tends to have a bad one. Since Messi and Ronaldo are on opposing sides this will be the same.

Messi is a fantastic footballer who leads his team by sticking with it until the final whistle. Ronaldo leads by the effort he puts into the games, though admittedly it always doesn't seem like that. They are two great players that we should just watch with wonder, not banter about it in comment sections. Just enjoy the two while they are still playing because one day you will watch Real Madrid play and wonder why it doesn't feel the same without Ronaldo. Also you will watch Barcelona play and miss the play maker that Messi is.