Guys, Messi has been scoring more, Messi averages 0.81 goals per match, Ronaldo 0.72. What do we talk about?
Ronaldo's a great player, but he's no Messi, although he's been highly motivated and more clutch recently.
Just look at this, goals generated (g+a) per age.
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If he carries this Portugal side to the title, there'll be a debate which Ronaldo will end up taking in the end, imo.
There are some "buts" here.
1. Young Messi was way better than CR7.
A lot of his goals are from that era.
2. second, a current Messi, for some reason is able to score goals against Getafe and similar, but has gone MIA in the last 5-6 years (more or less) in a CL and in bigger matches (except El Classico).
So, I don't see a point of these stats over the whole career, because Messi obviously has 2 parts of his career:
1. young brave Messi, GOAT in both small and big matches. Plus, with Xavi and Iniesta behind him
2. older Messi. Without Xavi and Iniesta. Plus, for some reason invisible, broken and sulking in big matches.
So, maybe the debate: who is better: Messi or CR7 should look like this:
1. best ever: young Messi
2. CR7 over whole career
3. old Messi
When you look at their whole careers:
Messi is better in La Ligas
Cr7 is better in CLs
Cr7 is better with NT teams
Cr7 is equal or better in big matches
Cr7 is better in Ballon D Ors due to points from above
I know that my posts sounds as if I am hating Messi or something, but since he is the best ever, he really fucked up in the last 5-6 years.
He also had a potential for way more CLs and NT titles, it needs to be said.
The same as how Neymar, Ronaldinho and others didn't reach their potential.
It seems that Messi also made a mess in the 2nd part of his career from 100s of random reasons.