1.) 03 Aug 2019
03 Aug 2019 20:46:51
Enjoyed that Tris cheers. I think they both peaked when Cristiano first moved to Real Madrid and Leo was in that very special Pep Barcelona team.
What I would add, I believe they wouldn't have been as good if it wasn't for each other. The debates and comparisons and obvious direct competitions they shared, brought the best out of each other for years.

{Ed001's Note - fair point.}

2.) 03 Aug 2019
03 Aug 2019 20:50:14
Really nice article Ed01, though I disagree about the leadership qualities of both.
I think Ronaldo is a good leader, especially with the Portuguese team. You always see him encouraging the others, and when they're a goal down or more, he takes active steps to get on the ball more and create for his team. I think Diego Simeone even commented close to it about Ronaldo being capable of delivering, while Messi needs an army.
I don't think that's just about their "clutch" genes, I think it's about leadership also. Ronaldo comes through in tough times and he encourages his teammates not to give up.
I agree that Messi puts his head down and sulks.
But then, I like Ronaldo more than Messi, so maybe it's just my bias.

{Ed001's Note - with Portugal Ronaldo is a different player. He never did anything like that with Real Madrid or Juventus.}

3.) 03 Aug 2019
03 Aug 2019 20:58:16
Nice write up thanks. 2 unbelievable players and their comparison is great because of how much they differ in style. One question for you Ed, if you were to pick one teammate who best complimented each of messi/ ronaldo in their career who would ya reckon? Dani alves and Messi seemed telepathic in their prime on that right wing. Benzema was a great selfless partner for Ronaldo.

{Ed001's Note - I think you have them spot on.}

4.) 04 Aug 2019
03 Aug 2019 23:58:23
Agree with LFC 8, they've pushed the boundaries battling each other, I fear we won't see such quality again with the rise of social media and the likes of Neymar being seen as world class😨.

5.) 04 Aug 2019
03 Aug 2019 22:02:59
Quality article Ed, thanks mate. Needed something like that tonight, sound as a pound.

{Ed001's Note - cheers Salah. Don't worry you will be back scoring soon. }

6.) 04 Aug 2019
04 Aug 2019 07:37:45
With Ronaldo primarily a goal-scorer, and Messi more of a passer and link-up man, its astonishing that their goal ratios are comparable. This is why Messi edges it for me.
Ronny shoots on sight and takes all the penalties and free kicks. Leo is less selfish, provides for the team and doesn't score as many penalties as he should. Yet their goal returns are very similar.

7.) 04 Aug 2019
04 Aug 2019 07:55:33
I will indeed Ed mate!

8.) 04 Aug 2019
04 Aug 2019 09:01:57
Good read, Ed. It’s interesting to imagine if the both of them could have worked in the same team, or whether their styles of play would frustratingly clash.

I think you’ve mentioned it before, but who is the best-ever player in your opinion?

{Ed001's Note - I think they would have been incredible together in the same team.

Best ever I have seen is Maradona. He did it on cabbage patches with defenders trying to deliberately end his career. No modern player has to worry about controlling the ball on a dodgy pitch and you can tell as their technique is nowhere near as good as the players in the past. They are much fitter and stronger now but they do not have the same quality in their first touch.}

9.) 04 Aug 2019
04 Aug 2019 11:37:50
Cheer's Ed001 enjoyable read. My personal preference is Messi for club, Ronaldo for country. It's when the latter tends to raise his game another gear, particularly with his work rate and pressing.

With Mbappe on course to be their eventual long time successor I hope someone steps up and provides him the competition needed to reach his full potential. Hard to know if Ronaldo and Messi would be the players they are without each other.

10.) 04 Aug 2019
04 Aug 2019 13:02:07
Spot on, Ed01. For me, the best player I have ever seen in all my 35 yrs of watching football is O Phenomeno a. k. a Big Ron. He was immense and to your point about the first touch of the likes of Maradona on patchy pitches, Ronaldo had the best first touch of any CF I have ever seen. This IMO, is one of the biggest reasons he was that good and why he scored so many goals. The things he could do with the ball at his feet on not so great pitches esp. in South America, were insane.

Btw in the 90's, the pitches weren't the Billiard tables they are now so the degree of difficulty was till higher than it is now. If Ronaldo, Maradona, Pele and the like played in this era with the same state of the art facilities, the stars of today would be flipping burgers at Burger King right now, IMO cos technique-wiss, it's not even a close call.

11.) 04 Aug 2019
04 Aug 2019 17:57:05
It's an obvious choice for me.

I don't like tea.