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This thread explains the importance of Cristiano Ronaldo in the formation of the modern game.
His offensive versatility has lead to influence not seen since Johan Cruyff:
His offensive versatility has lead to influence not seen since Johan Cruyff:
So, how has football changed in the last 20 years?
• The most common formation has changed from 4-4-2 to 4–3-3
• There are more goals per game & less emphasis on defence
• Star players are wingers rather than 10s
• Wingers are now inverted and score more
• The most common formation has changed from 4-4-2 to 4–3-3
• There are more goals per game & less emphasis on defence
• Star players are wingers rather than 10s
• Wingers are now inverted and score more
This thread will explore the progress of these changes, and how evidence correlates this to Ronaldo setting new records for wide players.
We start with the traditional 4-4-2 model. A goalscoring 9, an all-rounder 10, and wingers who balance defence and attack.
We start with the traditional 4-4-2 model. A goalscoring 9, an all-rounder 10, and wingers who balance defence and attack.
Players would be divided into these positions based on a variety of attributes:
Height, strength, offensive awareness, finishing
Control, playmaking, vision, goalscoring
Pace, crossing, take-on ability, workrate
Height, strength, offensive awareness, finishing Control, playmaking, vision, goalscoring Pace, crossing, take-on ability, workrate
Ronaldo was best attributed to a wide midfield position in his early career.
However, later developing all the attributes of a 9, 10 and a wide MF meant that he was able to reach an impact from the wing that no player had ever had.
However, later developing all the attributes of a 9, 10 and a wide MF meant that he was able to reach an impact from the wing that no player had ever had.
Traditionally, wide midfielders were never prolific. The best years of some legendary wide midfielders:
Garrincha: 20 in 26
Pires: 19 in 51
Giggs: 17 in 58
Beckham: 16 in 43
Figo: 14 in 50
Garrincha: 20 in 26 Pires: 19 in 51 Giggs: 17 in 58 Beckham: 16 in 43 Figo: 14 in 50
Ronaldo changed this in 2008 when he became the first ever winger to:
• Win the European Golden Shoe
• Finish as the UCL top scorer
• Finish the calendar year with the most goals in Europe
Alongside his achievements since 2006, he had reached a height no winger had.
• Win the European Golden Shoe
• Finish as the UCL top scorer
• Finish the calendar year with the most goals in Europe
Alongside his achievements since 2006, he had reached a height no winger had.
Ronaldo did this during the peak Premier League and in Europe. He created a model of a goalscoring winger that every top team wanted.
Three main pieces of evidence illustrate wide-scale changes to European lineups directly after he broke the ceiling for a winger.
Three main pieces of evidence illustrate wide-scale changes to European lineups directly after he broke the ceiling for a winger.
First is to compare the usage of a traditional formation vs a modern one.
• Before his rise, there was a stagnant low usage of front three’s at 21%
• After his PL success it was trialed by 30% of teams
• After he perfected the model at RM it was used by 60% of teams (14/15)
• Before his rise, there was a stagnant low usage of front three’s at 21%
• After his PL success it was trialed by 30% of teams
• After he perfected the model at RM it was used by 60% of teams (14/15)
Another piece of evidence is to look at the highest scoring winger each year.
Ronaldo averaged double that of the 2nd highest scoring winger in his early Madrid years.
Directly after this, a steady increase in the goals scored by other top scoring wingers is seen.
Ronaldo averaged double that of the 2nd highest scoring winger in his early Madrid years.
Directly after this, a steady increase in the goals scored by other top scoring wingers is seen.
The last major change in traditional and modern wide players is the increasing use of inverted wingers.
In 10/11 Ronaldo made the change to the LW which allowed him to cut back and score more goals, drastically increasing his tally.
In 10/11 Ronaldo made the change to the LW which allowed him to cut back and score more goals, drastically increasing his tally.
The % of inverted wingers within the Premier League is another stat that directly correlates with Ronaldo’s career.
In 04/05, just 22% of wingers played on the wing of their weak foot. By 19/20, this had risen to 61% of wingers.
It is now the standard for a modern forward:
In 04/05, just 22% of wingers played on the wing of their weak foot. By 19/20, this had risen to 61% of wingers.
It is now the standard for a modern forward:
The rest of the changes in football followed on naturally.
With goalscoring wingers, 10s became closer to midfielders than goalscorers. That responsibility lay with the front 3.
The mainstream use of wingers also affected the average goals per game, hitting a 21st century high.
With goalscoring wingers, 10s became closer to midfielders than goalscorers. That responsibility lay with the front 3.
The mainstream use of wingers also affected the average goals per game, hitting a 21st century high.
Ronaldo spent years of his career pioneering this position. As he developed his skills, he was also developing the modern inverted winger.
Nowadays players like Sterling, Rashford or Fati are trained as IW’s at the dawn of their careers.
Imagine, what if Ronaldo had that?
Nowadays players like Sterling, Rashford or Fati are trained as IW’s at the dawn of their careers.
Imagine, what if Ronaldo had that?
There are many factors which held him back:
• Starting as a right mid in a 4-4-2
• Early 4-3-3’s had goalscoring 10s like Rooney / Kaka
• The 9s he played with were less creative than now
• Opposing teams wouldn’t play out the back and therefore had less errors
• Starting as a right mid in a 4-4-2
• Early 4-3-3’s had goalscoring 10s like Rooney / Kaka
• The 9s he played with were less creative than now
• Opposing teams wouldn’t play out the back and therefore had less errors
Considering all of the above it is unfair to compare any PL winger to Ronaldo. Scoring goals as a winger now is much easier than it once was, due to CR.
Likewise, Salah would be a LM in a 4-4-2 getting 15 goals a season if Ronaldo hadn’t pioneered the position that he plays.
Likewise, Salah would be a LM in a 4-4-2 getting 15 goals a season if Ronaldo hadn’t pioneered the position that he plays.
The football world is slowly starting to realise Ronaldo’s influence on the modern game, and the changes he inspired are some of the greatest football has seen.
Primary data is from transfermrkt:
• Goalscorers of the year
• Schedule
• Detailed Club Profile
And finally, whilst Messi has predominately been a 10, he was profilic as a RW during MSN. I did not include these in the graph as not to skew the average of the regular players!
• Goalscorers of the year
• Schedule
• Detailed Club Profile
And finally, whilst Messi has predominately been a 10, he was profilic as a RW during MSN. I did not include these in the graph as not to skew the average of the regular players!
