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| Ronaldo No One |
While infamously declaring his preference for Lionel Messi over Cristiano Ronaldo last year, Sepp Blatter displayed a surprising level of insight when he mused that the Barcelona No.10 is “a good boy ... and that's what makes him so popular.” The Fifa president unwittingly underlined that while the Portuguese may be an advertisers' dream, he has long since lost the Public Relations battle in the war for the title of the greatest player of the 21st century. In the eyes of his critics, Ronaldo's greatest crime appears to be that he is not Lionel Messi. The suggestion that the Madeira native is lacking something seems particularly ludicrous after a season in which he scored 51 goals, 11 of which came either via his head or his ‘weaker’ left foot, and ended with him placing a Champions League winners’ medal in his trophy cabinet alongside the Ballon d’Or for 2013.
We are talking about a serial winner who also happens to be the perfect footballing specimen; an ideal blend of physique and technique; a player of both style and substance. As Michael Owen says, Ronaldo has it all. “He is fast, scores goals, he is both footed, and he has skills and can score with his head. He is also strong and plays every game, so he is durable. “There isn’t anything he can't do."
Ability is not the only factor when it comes to determining true greatness. Physicality, versatility, mentality and footballing intelligence must also be considered. However, Ronaldo undeniably ticks many of the boxes. Even when it comes to comparing their respective capabilities on the field, it is often claimed that the Argentine has the edge because of a mysterious ‘X factor’. Diego Maradona even wrote last month that "Cristiano can do what Lionel Messi does ... well, almost” - without offering any clarification as to what exactly it was that Ronaldo is incapable of doing.
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| Nonaldo de Goala |
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| Ronaldo the Gazola |
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