I'm so sad for all the people who start to criticize Messi! Really miss the good old days where football fans relied their statements only on what they saw on the pitch, not on what YouTube highlights or the stats shows. For all what is happening, I personally blame the board for such pathetic choices of coaches, transfers etc. I was a big Barca fan since the Rivaldo & Figo days, but went to totally obsession mode with the Messi era.
The simple fact that Messi is almost same level as Ronaldo in the goalscoring department is insane, when you think that they play totally different roles and position. Since when did it became a huge disappointment that an AM/Winger doesn't score as much as a CF/ST? (I'm Messi case he actually does) did I really become so conservative with the rules of this game?
Yes, CR7 is one of the best strikers ever but IMO (and it's just my personal opinion) Lewandoski, Jardel, Shearer, Batistuta, Van Nistelrooy etc or even Suárez would have same number of goals with such a high quality midfield as Real has atm. People talk only about Reals midfield and forget 2 very important and awesome passers as Marcelo or Carvajal. I'm sad that people put the domestic title so low. For that, I really respect the Premiership because they still are proud if they win it.
But I can't blame most of you guys because when you see a football genius like Messi in your team, you start to think you are invincible and get blinded of the lack of quality this guy has around him.
As for the discussion about the Ballon d'Or, I still think that Ronaldo has won atleast 2 of them without even deserving them (2013 when Ribery should have cleary won it and the one from last year). Even Real Madrid fans voted Isco as their best player last year.
Even the Euro 2016. If you have even watched Portugals games ( I did mostly for betting reasons
) you would have noticed that Ronaldo was one of the worst players on the pitch in most of the matches. Every Portugal fan will confirm it. Heck, he dident even play the final but after the tournament, all people said "OMG, Ronaldo won the Euro for Portugal". Which was one the most fake statments I ever heard.
IMO, the Ballon d'Or was set up to make things more interesting because the 4-1 at the time in favor of Messi was to boring for marketing reasons.
As for the statement that Messi disappears in the important matches, that is one of the most bullshit statment ever. Since 2007 in 90% of the big matches, Messi was the key figure.
Ronaldo was known for missing all the big matches. How people can forget is a mistary.... And why people start to compare only the last 5 years? Why not all the years?
As for the 4 CL that Ronaldo won: In 3/4 finals, he wasn't even the best. 2 of them, Ramos saved them by scoring the goals. I love how people say that Ronaldo is more dominant in CL then Messi, but people wake up: they have same amount of CL titles FFS (4). It's not like Messi has none. They just had different periods.
IMO, Messi has yet alot to offer but clearly needs some support aswell. With the right signings Veratti/Thiago and Griezmann, I believe Messi, the masterpiece, isn't finished yet.
IMO, Barca fans should feel totally lucky to have such a unique player and enjoy (sadly to say) his last years in football.