Imo Messi doesn't really play worse in k.o. games. I think it more comes down to better opponents being able to expose his weaknesses and his overall effect on the team. In important games the opponent is better prepared, the players give their absolute best, run their lungs out etc and can expose our weaknesses better than in a regular league match. While Messi can't really up his individual performance that much unless he could suddenly start running and defending on top of his awesome skills but i think thats just not physically possible for him.
My opinion is for the last 5-6 years that Messi is easier to neutralize on a highest level due to his physical skills.
He can shoot only with feet.
He can't shoot with head.
And lately he is not that fast anymore.
So, it is way harder for him to get into goalscoring chances compared to CR7.
Messi is a better footballer when you sum ALL footballing skills, but there is one paradox, and this is it:
I tried to think now how would ALL big teams play with Messi or CR7 in their team.
Barca:
-- our style is built around Messi, so he fits better here, even though we are still not good enough for a CL anymore
Real:
-- imo, they are ALREADY playing well, and they DON'T need Messi's playmaking skills that much
They will profit more with CR7 in a team than with A CURRENT Messi.
Messi will improve their already good playmaking game and he won't be scoring AS MUCH as CR7 on a CL level since again, Messi will be easy to neutralize by big teams.
While CR7, he is a better fit for teams who are already GOOD in playmaking, and who need a KILLER finisher upfront to finish their chances.
So, for Real, CR7 will bring more in CL matches than Messi.
Juve:
Imo, the same thing.
If you put Messi in their team, they will suck. Messi won't bring pace, and won't bring header goals. He will bring some playmaking, but he will be neutralized again by big teams.
But, if you put CR7 in Juve, that is another story: they have a good defense, they have a decent midfield, and they will produce lots of crosses and passes for CR7, who can bring them goals in KO matches.
So, again, Juve with CR7 would be a better in CL KO matches than Juve with Messi.
Juve with Messi would be the same shitshow as Barca, isn't it?
Let's go further:
Bayern, the same story:
If you put Messi, he will play shortpasses and bring some playmaking, even though Bayern has enough of playmaking already.
In a CL, Messi probably won't improve current Bayern THAT much.
On the other hand, if you put CR7 in Bayern, who is already good in playmaking, CR7 will get tons of crosses and easy shots and he could bring them 0:2 victories against anyone.
Liverpool:
Probably none of these two is a good fit.
And then, ONLY Man City is a type of a team for Messi:
They are playing the same as Barca, and imo, that is the only big team where Messi's skills would bring more to their team than CR7's skills.
About NT teams, imo, it is quite the same:
France:
Messi couldn't play there.
Neither could CR7, but he would be closer to their style, I guess.
Croatia:
I guess that CR7 would bring more to Croatia than Messi.
Croatia already has a nice playmaking game with Modric and Rakitic and they need a CF upfront to kill off the matches.
Messi in Croatia, well, I think that he would suck again.
England:
The same:
Imagine Messi in England. He would suck again.
They play a weird football, he is not fit to their style at all.
CR7, a different story, AGAIN, his skills (scoring, headers) could be good enough for English style of play.
Italy or Germany, again, CR7 could bring more than Messi, imo.
The only big team where Messi could shine is imo Belgium.
They are somewhat similar to City.
So, my point is: people are talking all the time:
Argentina sucks, Messi is not guilty.
Barca sucks, Messi is not guilty.
We play slow, Messi is not guilty.
Imo, it seems that the only way for Messi to shine is to have some sort of Pep's team.
That is the only type of a team where Messi can make a difference.
While for majority of other, very good teams, in big matches, CR7 is a better pick since he is able to score more goals in BIG MATCHES due to being faster, and being able to score headers.
On the other hand, another paradox is:
If you play La liga, then Messi is obviously a better pick.
Against weaker teams, he is offering more: both playmaking, assists and goals.
While CR7 offers only goals.
So, imo:
If you want La ligas: buy Messi.
If you want a CL: buy CR7...
So, imo, after watching Messi's failures for years, I think that it is not a coincidence anymore.
He was always short.
But now, he is also slower than before.
He can't dribble past 5-6 players anymore.
He can't score a header.
And against big boys, he is EASIER to neutralize in terms of scoring.
Cr7 is better in off the ball movement and positioning to score.
He can score with feet and head.
Not to mention his better mental strength where he is able to score a header in the 94th minute for 1:1, while Messi will sulk already after 30 minutes if we are 0:1 down.
All in all, I still think that Messi is overall a better footballer.
But for majority of big teams, CR7 would bring more in THIS moment, due to his physical skills and better off the ball movement, positioning and ability to score BOTH with feet and head.
I personally won't be surprised if Juve will win a CL.
Cr7 is that type of a player.
On the other hand, Messi in Juve=that wouldn't work.
What is worse, I think that even Argentina would play better with CR7 than Messi.
They wouldn't have Messipendencia.
They could play faster and hurl 100 crosses in the box where CR7 would score 2-3 in majority of matches.
I know that this post will be quite offensive for our fans.
But when you remove emotions, think about it: do you think that Messi could lead a current Real, Juve, Bayern, Liverpool to a CL glory?
Then, put CR7 in those teams, and ask yourself the same question.
I personally see a bunch of 0:1 and 0:2 wins with penaldos and headers in the last 10 minutes.
Just like with Real and Portugal in big KO matches...
