Cristiano Ronaldo - Performances (wums will be thread banned)

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Was ALWAYS a better player than Messi. Messi was just a perfect fit for the approach Barcelona were taking.

Ronaldo is just a machine who would score a bucket load of goals regardless of who he is playing for. Has proven to be a scorer of plenty in Spain and England - for that reason alone he will always win the argument against Messi for me.

I still think Messi is the best player of all time, but I don't see Ronaldo too far from that now. Ronaldo is the better goalscorer even though they have similar goal scoring rates. Ronaldo has proved it everywhere, whereas Messi to be honest has only been doing it for the Barcelona team. I know he took his team to the WC final but cmon, they had a piss easy draw to the finals.

Ronaldo is going to get another Balon d'or this year.... he's turning it on just at the right time.
 
Based on this season overall form and performance, I don't think he should be considered worthy candidate of Ballon D'ore, maybe at most top 5. But since he has started hitting top form at the crucial stage, and shinning at the big matches at the right time, lets say he continue his current form and go on winning trophies (league and CL) by end of season, who knows, maybe he will have big chance to win it again.
 
Isn't the Ballon d'Or judged over a calendar year rather than the previous season though (genuinely not sure)? So Ronaldo won the last one despite having an underwhelming start to this season.
 
Based on this season overall form and performance, I don't think he should be considered worthy candidate of Ballon D'ore, maybe at most top 5. But since he has started hitting top form at the crucial stage, and shinning at the big matches at the right time, lets say he continue his current form and go on winning trophies (league and CL) by end of season, who knows, maybe he will have big chance to win it again.
Yes, that is likely to be a factor.

Also, what players have done much better than him on a constant basis? There doesn't seem to be one. Messi had good days and bad ones too, including two humiliating defeats in the Champions League. It will be tough this year to pick, but if Real wins the double, Ronaldo's chances will significantly increase.
 
History wil remember him as a GOAT or the GOAT if he manages to retain the Champions League throne with Real Madrid IMO.
Till last year he already had proven that he belongs there, then he wins Portugal's first major tournament (Euro 2016) and Real Madrid is on his way to become the first team to win 2 CLs in a row.

Lets not kid ourselves, while on his peak (and that was pretty much around a decade) he was a one man army and was annihilating teams every other week, but I do find ironic that arguably his major feats come from a time where he obviously declined and he isn't as consistently influential as he used to be.
 
Pele, Maradona, Messi, Beckenbauer, Di Stefano, Cruyff, Puskas, Baresi, Ronaldo (R9), Cristiano Ronaldo.

I think he's going to get in my top ten if Real win CL and the League this year.
 
Pele, Maradona, Messi, Beckenbauer, Di Stefano, Cruyff, Puskas, Baresi, Ronaldo (R9), Cristiano Ronaldo.

I think he's going to get in my top ten if Real win CL and the League this year.

So if ronaldo plays shit or misses the rest of the season but real win CL and the league, he will get into your top 10?
 
So if ronaldo plays shit or misses the rest of the season but real win CL and the league, he will get into your top 10?

Nope. Deciding your greatest of all time players is fickle business, small margins.. if he's influential and performs like this till end of season, how can you not put him there.
 
Nope. Deciding your greatest of all time players is fickle business, small margins.. if he's influential and performs like this till end of season, how can you not put him there.

If he is influential and perform like this but Madrid fails to win, will he be in there? I fail to see how the team success is linked to an individuals greatness. It should be on his performance not Madrid.
 
What about if Ronaldo plays like a hero and Real still loses the CL?

Depends on how heroic, if he scores but overall performance is shite and they lose vs overall great with a couple of goals and unlucky to lose. Would be taken into account for sure.

@MJJ of course his own individual performance is more important but obviously if it is a mixture of both then to add a season like that to his overall body of work is going to put him right up there.
 
The guys a machine. He's like the Terminator, except he scores goals. Absolute beast.
 
Come on, R9 is left in CR7's dust by now.

That's an overstatement, you can't cherry pick CR7's club performance over R9 to say "he's left him on the dust" and disregard everything Ronaldo did with Brazil.

If everyone used that bias then neither Maradona nor Pelé would stand a chance against actual elite players
 
Yes, that is likely to be a factor.

Also, what players have done much better than him on a constant basis? There doesn't seem to be one. Messi had good days and bad ones too, including two humiliating defeats in the Champions League. It will be tough this year to pick, but if Real wins the double, Ronaldo's chances will significantly increase.
If Real win the double, you can bet your mortgage the Ballon D'or is his.
 
Come on, R9 is left in CR7's dust by now.

In terms of trophy achievement and stats.. but R9 goes down in history alongside probably Maradona as one of the most unmarkable players ever. Winning the world cup like he did after going through what he had to is truly iconic, and if you were to pick an all time XI, no doubt in my mind I'd pick R9 in my side first over Cristiano as he's a more dangerous player against GOAT defenders.

That said, Cristiano for his body of work so far.. and the way he's performing in clutch situations. Doubts I had over him, were in the big games.. he doesn't quite nail it for me in terms of overall performance/scoring key goals but in Euro 2016.. he was delivering key goals and yesterday was phenomenal. He was making guys like Lahm look like a punk.. that is greatness and it deserves to be acknowledged.. but R9 was making guys like Maldini look like mugs, so that is another tier of greatness.
 
CR7 is one of the best players ever. 20 years from now, the GOAT discussions will be between him and Messi. The others from back in the day will be a relic of a bygone era.
 
In terms of trophy achievement and stats.. but R9 goes down in history alongside probably Maradona as one of the most unmarkable players ever. Winning the world cup like he did after going through what he had to is truly iconic, and if you were to pick an all time XI, no doubt in my mind I'd pick R9 in my side first over Cristiano as he's a more dangerous player against GOAT defenders.

That said, Cristiano for his body of work so far.. and the way he's performing in clutch situations. Doubts I had over him, were in the big games.. he doesn't quite nail it for me in terms of overall performance/scoring key goals but in Euro 2016.. he was delivering key goals and yesterday was phenomenal. He was making guys like Lahm look like a punk.. that is greatness and it deserves to be acknowledged.. but R9 was making guys like Maldini look like mugs, so that is another tier of greatness.
8 goals against Bayern alone, the all time topscorer in CL QF and onwards (double what Messi has), and you have doubts over him in big games? :wenger:
 
CR7 is one of the best players ever. 20 years from now, the GOAT discussions will be between him and Messi. The others from back in the day will be a relic of a bygone era.
It's called recency bias. People thay have watched football since the Di Stefano era insist that those past players were better. At the end of the day the perception of the greatness is skewed very heavily by newspapers and the British Media have a very big impact on the lasting legacy of players.

Maradona is always brough up as the best of all time. When he was playing and active, noone used to say he was the outright best ever from what I remember and before 1986 he was seen as a massive underachiever and Platini was actually regarded as the best of that era along with Zico internationally.

I don't take too much stock in greatness as the metrics are too variable and subjective.

What I will say is that both Messi and Ronaldo are the greatest of this generation and greatest doesn't mean the best to me.
 
History wil remember him as a GOAT or the GOAT if he manages to retain the Champions League throne with Real Madrid IMO.
Till last year he already had proven that he belongs there, then he wins Portugal's first major tournament (Euro 2016) and Real Madrid is on his way to become the first team to win 2 CLs in a row.

Lets not kid ourselves, while on his peak (and that was pretty much around a decade) he was a one man army and was annihilating teams every other week, but I do find ironic that arguably his major feats come from a time where he obviously declined and he isn't as consistently influential as he used to be.
The GOATs can adapt their game and still deliver top accomplishments like Brazilian Ronaldo did. I hate those guys who had to retire early/young or fell of a cliff by 30. Obviously there are some special circumstances but the true GOATS are guys like Ronaldo and Messi who put in world class feats for a whole decade
 
8 goals against Bayern alone, the all time topscorer in CL QF and onwards (double what Messi has), and you have doubts over him in big games? :wenger:

For me that goal he scored against Atletico for example, when it was Bale who won it for them.. typified my doubts about him. Obviously capable of scoring big goals, i.e. v Chelsea in 08 final but something wasn't quite right.. his overall performances in these big games was underwhelming.

Messi too has had similar issues, but the general quality of his game remained high and his performances vs likes of Bayern, majestic.. again capable of goals, but both of them didn't have that terror factor which R9 had at his peak.

Yesterday was different, it felt like a master at work and that is what I want to see from Ronaldo and hes's doing it.
 
It's called recency bias. People thay have watched football since the Di Stefano era insist that those past players were better. At the end of the day the perception of the greatness is skewed very heavily by newspapers and the British Media have a very big impact on the lasting legacy of players.

Maradona is always brough up as the best of all time. When he was playing and active, noone used to say he was the outright best ever from what I remember and before 1986 he was seen as a massive underachiever and Platini was actually regarded as the best of that era along with Zico internationally.

I don't take too much stock in greatness as the metrics are too variable and subjective.

What I will say is that both Messi and Ronaldo are the greatest of this generation and greatest doesn't mean the best to me.

Yes, as the Pele and Maradona fans stop participating in the discussions (or die off), the discussions will always center on the two players most people remember watching from between their teenage years to their 40s.
 
L. Ronaldo's goal exploits in Seria A when he was at his best (prior to the injuries) aren't special by any means. He was among the top scorers but none of the latter was close to C. Ronaldo. Can't see C.R. being outscored by Bierhoff. Surely, L.R. was better to watch but C. R. has more weapons to influence a game: far superior movement, far better at heading the ball, far better at set peices and far more determined to win.
 
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CR7 is one of the best players ever. 20 years from now, the GOAT discussions will be between him and Messi. The others from back in the day will be a relic of a bygone era.

Started off well, but completely disregard everything you said in second half in your post. It is just silly.
 
Started off well, but completely disregard everything you said in second half in your post. It is just silly.

They'll be largely forgotten. The further back they are the less they will be remembered. Those still fresh in our memories will therefore receive more consideration.
 
For me that goal he scored against Atletico for example, when it was Bale who won it for them.. typified my doubts about him. Obviously capable of scoring big goals, i.e. v Chelsea in 08 final but something wasn't quite right.. his overall performances in these big games was underwhelming.

Messi too has had similar issues, but the general quality of his game remained high and his performances vs likes of Bayern, majestic.. again capable of goals, but both of them didn't have that terror factor which R9 had at his peak.

Yesterday was different, it felt like a master at work and that is what I want to see from Ronaldo and hes's doing it.
That peak that last 2 years? Anyway, I struggle to think of any season in the last decade where C Ronaldo wasn't equal or better than R9 at his peak.
 
They'll be largely forgotten. The further back they are the less they will be remembered. Those still fresh in our memories will therefore receive more consideration.

Doesn't quite work like that. Players pre 1950 are largely forgotten due to lack of footage, but the players from the 1960's are still hugely significant and there is loads of footage from them.

Some of the stuff Pele was pulling off in the 1958 final aged 17, I've seen an entire career of Cristiano and never seen him able to pull off that level of skill, so most of the great players are timeless.

Cristiano too will be a timeless player as he's a genuine great of the game.
 
That peak that last 2 years? Anyway, I struggle to think of any season in the last decade where C Ronaldo wasn't equal or better than R9 at his peak.

Cal, I love you pal but I'm not going to get into a debate with you on anything Cristiano related.. it isn't personal, it will just go in circles.
 
Doesn't quite work like that. Players pre 1950 are largely forgotten due to lack of footage, but the players from the 1960's are still hugely significant and there is loads of footage from them.

Some of the stuff Pele was pulling off in the 1958 final aged 17, I've seen an entire career of Cristiano and never seen him able to pull off that level of skill, so most of the great players are timeless.

Cristiano too will be a timeless player as he's a genuine great of the game.

Its not down to a lack of footage. Its down to the fact that people who grew up watching them are no longer part of the discussions, due to age or death or they just aren't interested in arguing about it with people on the internet.
 
Its not down to a lack of footage. Its down to the fact that people who grew up watching them are no longer part of the discussions, due to age or death or they just aren't interested in arguing about it with people on the internet.

Exactly, they're not around so who is going to argue on their behalf and on what evidence?

I can't relate to pre 1950 players because I've seen nothing of them. You can go on word of mouth but that isn't enough.

The only reason why a younger person like me would even stick up for guys like Pele and Maradona, is that I have seen footage of them and respect their ability.. it is self-evidently genius at work.

Just like anyone 50 years from now, can listen to their grandfather bang on about Messi/Ronaldo and watch the footage for himself.

Pre 1950.. we can't really do that.
 
G. Nev: Ronaldo's best football years is when he's playing for Manchester United in two seasons (2006-2008).
GARY NEVILLE claims Cristiano Ronaldo had his best two years as a football player at Manchester United.

And former team-mate Neville believes during the time Ronaldo was picking up trophies for United between 2006 and 2008, that saw him win his first Ballon d’Or, the attacker was in his prime.

”I wonder if he's building up for a long career as a centre forward, where his running doesn't have to be 11km, 12km per match, it can be 7km, 8km, 9km, where he can still score two goals and live off moments,” Neville told Sky Sports.

“He's living off moments more than his all-round performance now.

"When he was at United, between 2006 and 2008, I still maintain that's his best two football years as a football player, in terms of his contribution through the whole game.

"Since he's gone to Real Madrid he's contributed enormously to everything they've done but he's living more off moments rather than a contribution through a whole 90 minutes.

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/foot...-Madrid-Cristiano-Ronaldo-La-Liga-News-Gossip
Have to agree.

After the funny World Cup incident with Rooney, Manchester United play the best entertaining football, with Ronaldo first becoming a team player that season 2006-7. Ronaldo the team player then reached his peak the next season 2007-8 where he scored that ridiculous 42 goals. Not just that, what's amazing is his overall plays in team plays, movement, shooting and set piece. Personally, imo his best overall performances ever as a footballer, very entertaining.

Since then, Ronaldo became more of a master goalscorer and striker which I find amazing and boring atsm. Great and amazing at scoring and breaking records of goals, but no longer fun watching him play. For me, Ronaldo (Manchester United 2006-8) is better than Messi. Ya, there is bias:cool:still Messi is a genius though. Can't compare the two of them now since different playstyles.
 
Don't think Gary Neville is far off there. Was much more a team player at United while he is the focal point of Madrid as an out and out striker and has been for years now.

Watching Ronaldo from 2006-2009 destroying teams was magnificent to behold. As his Madrid career progressed and he has become more of a striker he is still magnificent but not quite as enjoyable to watch (of course the fact hes not playing for United may factor in to this line of thinking).

It is a credit to him that he has adapted his game so well.
 
L. Ronaldo's goal exploits in Seria A when he was at his best (prior to the injuries) aren't special by any means. He was among the top scorers but none of the latter was close to C. Ronaldo. Can't see C.R. being outscored by Bierhoff. Surely, L.R. was better to watch but C. R. has more weapons to influence a game: far superior movement, far better at heading the ball, far better at set peices and far more determined to win.

08/09 Cristiano was outscored by Anelka
09/10 by Higuain

You probably saw that, and I don't consider Bierhoff inferior to those guys as a striker
 
I'm not asking them to name streets after me, the only thing I ask is that they don't boo me here," he told Spanish TV station Antena 3.

"I want them to stop booing me because I always give my best and even when I don't score I try to help Real Madrid

Nice to be appreciated
 
Thought Madrid would be looking to start slowly replacing him at the end of this season, with Hazar d or someone but if he keeps bangign the goals n that doesn't look like it'll happen

The game is going to feel so much different when both he and Messi hang up their boots
I prefer the old ways, always a new player coming up every few years.
 
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