Messi’s career path vs Ronaldo’s

[THREAD]

CR started off in the Portuegese league and had to earn a transfer to a top club.

Messi played for a team that won a UCL & 2 La Liga before he was a regular starter. These trophies are still used in debates.

CR joined the Prem in it’s toughest era. It was ranked as the strongest league of the 2000s by UEFA & IFFHS.

Compared to La Liga there were more teams in contention for titles:

Ronaldo had to develop in this league as a wide midfielder which harmed his numbers.

Messi developed in La Liga, where numbers were easier to come by.

This difference lasted for 6 years.

He left for Madrid but they weren’t a top club at the time. He traded B2B UCL finals for a team who couldn’t make it past the R16:

- 05/06: Round of 16
- 06/07: Round of 16
- 07/08: Round of 16
- 08/09: Round of 16

He also joined RM at the time of Pep’s Barcelona - arguably the greatest club side of all time

Messi played with Xavi & Iniesta in a system built around him. CR wasn’t gifted with the same teammates or managerial setup:

In ALL 9 seasons CR was in La Liga, his defence conceeded more goals than Barca. But individually:

Same G/G as Messi (1.07)
More match winners in less games
0.08 less A/G

Their stats were virtually equal but he only received 2 titles out of 9 due to Madrid’s defence.

Whilst RM improved and became a good team, his offensive teammates still weren’t on par with Messi’s.

In the UCL KO’s, these are the goal involvements per game of each player during the MSN/BBC eras:

Ronaldo left RM after a UCL 3peat for a declining Juventus side.

Most players are past their prime and the team has been creating only the 5th most chances in the league:

1. Bar Dybala, he plays with a 32 y/o Higuain, and Bernadeschi who hasn’t scored in 48 league games

2. His MF isn’t Pogba/Pirlo/Vidal, but Rabiot/Pjanic/Bentancur

3. The defence has conceeded more goals in each of the last 2 seasons than all seasons of the 7 title wins

We also need to consider - Ronaldo had to adapt to these leagues. His numbers dropped in the process.

Since 2007, CR has finished outside the BDor T2 twice - these were his 1st seasons at RM & Juve

He also lost the chance to win a few ‘supercup’ trophies due to moving

Internationally CR plays with Portugal whilst Messi plays with Argentina.

As well as historically, Argentina have been a better & more balanced side than Portugal during their careers:

Ronaldo’s INT teammates in his prime were much lesser than Messi’s. Ballon D’Or nominations from 2008-2018:

CR had 3 teammates nominated a total of 3 times (1 each)

Messi had 5 teammates nominated a total of 12 times

This was CR’s team during his prime-age World Cup:

On the same trend - Ronaldo won 5 out of his 5 Ballon D’Ors with 0 top 3 teammates.

Messi won 1/6 like this, having 6 top 3 teammates in the other 5.

In terms of top 10, Messi has had 20 teammates vs 12 for Ronaldo:

Ronaldo also suffered from a tendinosis knee injury in 2014. A reported 3/10 athletes who suffer this retire after the injury.

It heavily affected his agility and all around style of play in his later years:

More proof on team quality, winrate:

When neither play, Messi’s teams have a higher win % in UCL, La Liga & Internationally

But when they both play, Ronaldo’s teams have a higher win % in the UCL & Internationally

(& CR has a more positive effect on La Liga win % too)

Now - CR has had good teams, no doubting that. But statistically, they’re not close to the level that Messi has had. Plus, he’s had to adapt.

Messi will always be a - but you can’t look at all of this and say Ronaldo isn’t at least on the same level as him.