This is the main strength. If you try to play more open and attack head on, (prime) Messi will absolutely devastate you in a more open field or on transitions.
If you pack the box like Atletico used to with 2 lines of 4, CR7, Ramos, VVD will dominate on crosses/corners etc.
So, basically there's no way to play them. The team covers the "weaknesses" of prime Barca/Pool and prime RM
I guess the only short-comings would be that Messi and Ronaldo are both very lazy off the ball, and Marcelo sometimes pushes too high, leaving at least one, if not both flanks, vulnerable for counter attacks, but i think overall it is an incredible line-up.
Also, Messi having one of the best through-balls in the history of the game, i wonder how many times you would see "Messi to Ronaldo", whenever there is some space, Cristiano in his actual prime, speed demon cutting in from the left.
Might have been an assist record that could have stood for rest of the century.
