Cristiano Ronaldo - performances 2017/18

That calendar year thing is massively overstated in relation to his stats due to 3 things. Having an incredible amount of penalties, playing a lot of games including friendlies and playing plenty of full games (90 minutes). Take friendlies and penalties out of the equation and consider minutes played instead of games played and Cristiano's numbers for the 2013 calendar year pretty much match those of Messi in 2012. Both in goals and assists, while playing for a worse team.

Messi has 30 goals less in 150 games less because Cristiano played many more games as a youngster than Messi while Messi's played more games than Cristiano at their prime. If you compare their prime years, Cristiano averages less minutes per goal while generally playing for a worse team, he has a pretty superior record goalscoring wise in the Champions League knockouts in comparison to Messi and he's also proved it in 2 different teams who set up differently in 2 different leagues while in 2007/08 he had what was arguably the best season ever by a Premier League player. So I do think Cristiano's the better goalscorer of the 2 even if their numbers are pretty similar.

As for who's the better player in general, that's really a lot more complex and it depends on how you look at it. I'd pick Messi over Ronaldo if my team was set up in a certain way and I'd pick Ronaldo over Messi if my team was set up another way. I'll just say Messi's ability to control games gets massively overstated in these arguments, he's a player of the final third just like Cristiano and his direct impact on his team's goals is why he is who he is. Barça control 95% of their games even if Messi isn't on the pitch and on those other 5% they aren't able to control them now that their midfield got worse. This idea that too many people have that Messi simultaneously controls games like Zidane, is as creative as Maradona and is a better goalscorer than Cristiano is simply not true. He's definitely been the best in the world so far this season though, no arguments there.

The bolded part is where a lot of people make a silly argument. Messi was 17 when he made his debut at Barcelona. Also if you compare goals for club and country for both from when Ronaldo scored 40 odd goals at United in the Ballon D’or year, then Messi scored more goals,whilst without including Ronaldo when he was still raw. Even though Ronaldo is meant to be the greatest goal scorer of his generation. He isn’t, Messi is.

Also you are saying take out Messi’s penalties? Ronaldo has taken 115 and scored 97, Messi has taken 98 and scored 77. If you take out penalties then Messi’s goals per game is even better compared to Ronaldo than it is with penalties.

Messi for a few years had to play up front with Suarez and Neymar sharing the goals. Madrid focused all their goal scoring through Ronaldo.
 
The first part of your argument means that Messi has been a great player for longer so he has the longevity over Ronaldo. Ronaldo has scored more champions league goals but has played 30 more. Messi was great from the start and Ronaldo wasnt so the argument doesn’t hold. Ronaldo has scored more in the last few years yes but mainly because Madrid have gone further in Europe due to better management. The last few years Madrid have had a better team and Madrids focal point of goals was Ronaldo. He didnt have Suarez and Neymar next to him. If Ronaldo did he wouldn’t have scored as many. Ronaldo isn’t clearly ahead in 2017 either. Messi scored 12 more goals and 4 more assists. Stats are not everything or Zidane wouldnt be that great. Even just watching the two of them without stats, you can see who is better.

Through balls means more than crosses because you need to have great vision, crosses are sometimes speculative and balls across the box are not from great vision.

It isn’t me just saying ‘Messi is better for a fact’ though. Messi has better stats, he is more creative, a better passer, better at free kicks (conversion rate), can take players on easier, scores with less shots, has more flare. What has Ronaldo got that is better? He is better in the air and is more physical?

You say Messi has played for a more dominant team for longer, but you talk as if he played for MK Dons not Man United and Real Madrid. Barcelona wouldnt have been anywhere near as dominant without Messi. He is the reason they won so much.

If you dont include Ronaldo at Porto and his first few years for United Messi has scored more. 481 to Ronaldos 474. If you take away both their goal stats you can see that Messi is superior. It has nothing to do with being in the it is a fact that messi is better brigade. The evidence is there clear as day that Messi is better.
You can easily turn the same argument around and say that Messi only has a better record in the earlier years because Barca were dominating in Europe due to better colleagues. Having Suarez and Neymar next to him also helps him pad his assists stats.

The same could be said with other seasons where Ronaldo scored more and Messi won the big trophies, the awards are almost always based on the biggest trophies won.

We only need to compare Barca before and after Xavi's retirement and see that Messi isn't the only reason they dominated, in fact, most of that team won the WC for Spain without him.
 
He was 17 when he made his debut but so was Cristiano. What I was trying to say is that the amount of games they played at different times in their career means by checking their career goal stats you can't get a good conclusion on who the better goalscorer is.

It's not like this exactly but Cristiano playing so many games at the start of his career for both club and country, Messi's injury problems at the start of his career and Cristiano having played 33 less matches than Messi in the past 8 years is what makes that difference in their career goal stats. Since Cristiano's been in Madrid he has a better goal per game ratio than Messi for club even after last year when his goals per game ratio was the worse than ever there. The difference is since Cristiano's been in Madrid Messi has played 33 more matches than him which is almost like playing an extra season and that will have a big effect on their career goalscoring stats. That's why those 30 goals less in 150 games less aren't really relevant.

Like I said before, if you only include them both from Ronaldos 40 odd goal season at United, Messi has scored more. Yes Messi has played more games but 10 of them come from this season and last. If you include goals and assists then Messi has a way higher ratio of being involved in goals per game. Take away assists and Messi still has a better goal per game ratio. It isn’t all about stats either, take them away and you can just see by watching them who looks better (even in the past).

I have seen Messi do things and it is like how did he do that. I don’t get that same feeling with Ronaldo even though Ronaldo has been one of my favourite players for years and Messi hasn’t. It isn’t as if I am a fan of one and not the other either. Ronaldo is and has been an exceptional player. Top 10 ever for me. But Messi is top 5 in my opinion.

Anyway who cares really, both are fantastic and it has been a joy to have them both playing at the same time. We wont get 2 players this good playing at the same time together again for a long time.
 
 


He forgot he was 32 there.

Very good game tonight, always turns up for these big CL games recently. He should have definitely scored another one though
 
Still has great pace when he wants to use it - no surprise really when you think about how Robben's pace has held up despite his injury problems.
 


He forgot he was 32 there.

Very good game tonight, always turns up for these big CL games recently. He should have definitely scored another one though

Oh well, he’s saving it for the latter stages of the CL again, hopefully not against United
 
Fifa "the best" POTY.

Nailed on for Ballon D'or now! Siiii
 
Wonderful,wonderful playerwhen Messi won all those awards,so many people(even me who loves him dearly) said it is imposible for CR to win his second BDO and saying he must not join RM when he has to compeit with Barca!but he worked and wored ,...look at him now on course to win his fifth!just amazing
 
Apparently upset with Isco because he didn't thank him quickly enough for an assist? Where do people get these stories from?

His >1GPG ratio is under a little threat if his performances continue, I dont know if he would leave Madrid without that record being intact.
 
His >1GPG ratio is under a little threat if his performances continue, I dont know if he would leave Madrid without that record being intact.

8 goals in 13 appearances so far this season but 2 of those appearances were the supercup games where he played 10-15 minutes. Last season after 13 games he had 10 goals with the 13th game being the hattrick game against Atletico so it's not really any different. Poor league record so far but it will inevitably improve as he's playing well and Madrid will most likely get their shit together.
 
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sp...ano-Ronaldo-Georgina-Rodriguez-baby-girl.html

She's pretty stunning after just giving birth !

I heard from a reliable source the other day that he shagged Hayley McQueen when she was at MUTV a few years ago, lucky git !

He should retire from Portugal National Team after next years World Cup, Figo retired around his age, he is playing non-stop for one of the biggest clubs in the World, has so much time spent doing marketing.. has a newborn child and young family..

When will Ronaldo put the breaks on his career and be savvy enough to prioritise Real Madrid in order to prolog his career?

Surely after next years World Cup he has to pass the baton on to the younger kids? he won't play another World Cup at almost 40 years old in the baking heat of Qatar.. and he's already won the Euro's.

Surely a proper, intelligent discussions is needed about this? I've not heard anyone mention him retiring.. probably with the daft idea he can go on playing for both Real Madrid and Portugal until he's 40.
 
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sp...ano-Ronaldo-Georgina-Rodriguez-baby-girl.html

She's pretty stunning after just giving birth !

I heard from a reliable source the other day that he shagged Hayley McQueen when she was at MUTV a few years ago, lucky git !

He should retire from Portugal National Team after next years World Cup, Figo retired around his age, he is playing non-stop for one of the biggest clubs in the World, has so much time spent doing marketing.. has a newborn child and young family..

When will Ronaldo put the breaks on his career and be savvy enough to prioritise Real Madrid in order to prolog his career?

Surely after next years World Cup he has to pass the baton on to the younger kids? he won't play another World Cup at almost 40 years old in the baking heat of Qatar.. and he's already won the Euro's.

Surely a proper, intelligent discussions is needed about this? I've not heard anyone mention him retiring.. probably with the daft idea he can go on playing for both Real Madrid and Portugal until he's 40.

I can only see him retiring if we get to the final, which isn’t going to happen. Qualification for the Euros is a lot easier now so we can just rest him if he needs to, there’s no need for him to retire when he’s this important for us and he’s still very well physically.
 
Is it time to start accepting the decline of Ronaldo is real and happening before our eyes? is his body finally breaking down physically? It's almost half-way through the season, it isn't like we are just a few games into the season. Maybe questions need to be asked.

People use to say he is in fantastic condition/shape etc that he can do a Giggsy and easily play on at the highest level until he's 40, but just because one player can do it doesn't automatically mean another can just because he has a buff body.

I'm not saying he's finished, but maybe he is showing signs he isn't as superhuman as people thought. Father Time waits for no man.

He's still scoring in the Champion's League, but it's against Cannon Fodder against teams who are tactically set-up for him to score goals, but let's see when he has to step it up against the Elite when the pressure of HIM to perform and single-handedly drag Real Madrid through is on.

I'd love to see Ronaldo in the MLS, I think he would be amazing for the league. He's getting too relaxed at Real Madrid, he doesn't have to fight for his spot, he's won everything twice at Real Madrid, getting paid loads.. where's the motivation and ambition to push him to achieve more!? a change of scenario might be what he needs to get the Old Ronaldo back.

No matter how many Ballon d'Ors he wins and comforts himself with at night or stats and records of how many goals etc he has scored he will never be valued, respected and rated above Messi as this generations standout player. That's a fact he will have to accept sooner or later.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: sizzling sausages
Is it time to start accepting the decline of Ronaldo is real and happening before our eyes? is his body finally breaking down physically? It's almost half-way through the season, it isn't like we are just a few games into the season. Maybe questions need to be asked.

People use to say he is in fantastic condition/shape etc that he can do a Giggsy and easily play on at the highest level until he's 40, but just because one player can do it doesn't automatically mean another can just because he has a buff body.

I'm not saying he's finished, but maybe he is showing signs he isn't as superhuman as people thought. Father Time waits for no man.

He's still scoring in the Champion's League, but it's against Cannon Fodder against teams who are tactically set-up for him to score goals, but let's see when he has to step it up against the Elite when the pressure of HIM to perform and single-handedly drag Real Madrid through is on.

I'd love to see Ronaldo in the MLS, I think he would be amazing for the league. He's getting too relaxed at Real Madrid, he doesn't have to fight for his spot, he's won everything twice at Real Madrid, getting paid loads.. where's the motivation and ambition to push him to achieve more!? a change of scenario might be what he needs to get the Old Ronaldo back.

No matter how many Ballon d'Ors he wins and comforts himself with at night or stats and records of how many goals etc he has scored he will never be valued, respected and rated above Messi as this generations standout player. That's a fact he will have to accept sooner or later.


I'd say he doesn't particularly give a shit about the league this year.

His focus is a european treble and the world cup
 
Is it time to start accepting the decline of Ronaldo is real and happening before our eyes? is his body finally breaking down physically? It's almost half-way through the season, it isn't like we are just a few games into the season. Maybe questions need to be asked.

Even 'IF' he's in decline and i highlight the word 'IF' as people have said this before and he won a Ballon d'or, there's still not many players in the world better than him even now!

His and Messi's longevity at the top, I've never seen anything like it in modern day football. Players like Ronaldihno have their legacy by having a fantastic 3 to 4 years. Messi and Ronaldo have been at the top (and still are the top) for the last decade.

No matter if he goes to shit tomorrow, for me Ronaldo has rightfully earned his place as one of top4 greatest players of all time alongside Pele/Maradona and Messi.
 
Last edited:
That big opportunity near the end tonight was rough. Really poor first touch then had the opportunity to cut it back in classic Ronaldo style instead of the telegraphed shot but fecked it.
 
They guy has had a quiet start to the season (by his own standard), almost starting to think Madrid may play better without him in the team.

It's just annoying that he'll scoop the Ballon D'or for a 4th time when there are more deserving players.
 
Its ok, he'll score in semi final of CL and final and 70% of the caf will say he deserves the Dor again.

Rinse and repeat.
 
They guy has had a quiet start to the season (by his own standard), almost starting to think Madrid may play better without him in the team.

It's just annoying that he'll scoop the Ballon D'or for a 4th time when there are more deserving players.

:devil:
 
Its ok, he'll score in semi final of CL and final and 70% of the caf will say he deserves the Dor again.

Rinse and repeat.

He had a better match than Messi yesterday who was well below his standards and yet there's still comments like these. He'll win the Ballon D'Or because he deserves to win the Ballon D'Or as much as it pains a lot of people
 
It's inevitable time will catch up. Turns 33 in a few months. How time flies.
 


1 goal in 50 shots. *** efficiency. Even for Ronaldo's volume shooting this is truly shocking.
 
You just know he'll turn up in the CL scoring hattricks left and right.
 
jy1t6uiyayyz.png


Hasn't made a tackle or interception this season