Ronaldo vs Cristiano Ronaldo

Posted on 16. Jun, 2008 by Borris Becker in General

Ronaldo Vs Cristiano Ronaldo

There has been alot of talk about Cristiano being one of the greatest player of all time if Cristiano wins the Euros 2008 winners medal. Ok, now I agree that Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the best players in the world right now (though not the best) but we should not all get carried away that quickly and forget legendary names who have performed on the biggest of stages and done everything there is to be done. Names like Ronaldinho, Zidane, Figo and especially RONALDO  who are all of the same generation of players as Cristiano Ronaldo or one generation before.

One thing that people forget is that Cristiano Ronaldo’s best performances have come against minor teams in the epl and Champions League. Of the 42 goals( which is a fantastic goal tally no matter if you scored it in a local town club never mind the Epl and Champions League) 7 were off penalties, 4 or 5 were off headers and numerous open goals which just needed a touch from anyone and more often then not that anyone was Cristiano Ronaldo.

He may win the Fifa Player Of the Year award because of numerous reasons but we should not forget that awards are not won for scoring goals, they are won for leading the team in pressure situations and performing, making a difference when it matters most.

Ronaldo performed at the biggest stage of em all, against manchester united in the Champions League

If the awards had been won for scoring goals then Theirry Henry and Ruud Van Nistelrooy would have been in front of the long queue of players who have won the Fifa Player of the year award. The most important thing that Cristiano has done this season is to win Champions League medal which has further increased his chances of winning these awards this time, also injury to top players like Lionel Messi, Ricardo Kaka and Sameul Eto have helped too.

Cristiano Ronaldo worst performances of the season came in two of the biggest matches there are in a football professional’s career. The Champions League Final and The Champions League Semi-Final , both in which Cristiano Ronaldo missed penalties.

He is smiling now, had Drogba taken the John Terry penalty, things would have been different

(Source globesports.com)

Thats a another thing that Barcelona was not able to capitalize on Cristiano’s mistake and neither did John Terry when he missed the all important penalty against Manchester United in the Final of Champions League. Just a bit of luck on either of the two occasions in favor of the other team and today nobody would have been talking about Cristiano being in the list of one of the greatest players of all time.

The one player who has been overshadowed by his own doings in Ronaldo, the real Ronaldo, The phenomenon, The Master, The Goal Machine and the Brazillian Brilliant Ronaldo Luis Nazário de Lima. I am going to compare the two (Ronaldo and Cristiano Ronaldo) on the same level as in when Ronaldo was of the same age as Cristiano Ronaldo so that it would be clear to many fans that Cristiano Ronaldo has virtually done very little to be included in the distinguished list of all time great players.

Jose Mourinho considered Ronaldo a better player than Pele or Maradona in 1997 1998 but Ronaldo himself threw away his legend

Lets Compare the Awards both these two players won when both were age 23.

Ronaldo

(Individual Awards until age 23) 

• FIFA World Player of the Year: 1996 (youngest winner), 1997,
• World Soccer Player of the Year: 1996 (youngest winner), 1997,
• European Footballer of the Year (Ballon d’Or): 1997 (youngest winner),
• Onze d’Or: 1997,
• IFFHS World’s Top Goal Scorer of the Year:^[clarify] 1997
• UEFA Most Valuable Player – 1998
• UEFA Club Football Awards: Best Forward – 1998
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1998,
• European Golden Boot: 1997
• Bravo Award: 1997, 1998
• Copa América 1999: Top Scorer
• Spanish League Top Scorer: 1996-1997,
• Dutch League Top Scorer: 1994-1995

Cristiano Ronaldo

(Individual awards considering that he wins the Fifa Player of the Year award, European Player of the Year award, Champions League PLayer of the Year Award). 

• Professional Footballers’ Association
  • PFA Players’ Player of the Year: 2007, 2008
  • PFA Young Player of the Year: 2007
  • PFA Fans’ Player of the Year: 2007, 2008
  • PFA Premier League Team of the Year: 2005-2006, 2006-2007, 2007-2008
  • PFA Fans’ Player of the Month: October 2006, February 2007, November 2007, January 2008
• Barclays Premier League
  • Barclays Player of the Season: 2006-2007, 2007-2008
  • Barclays Player of the Month: November 2006, December 2006, January 2008, March 2008
  • Barclays Golden Boot: 2007–08
  • Barclays Merit Award: 2008
  • Football Writers’ Association Award: 2007, 2008
• Manchester United F.C.
  • Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year: 2003-2004, 2006-2007, 2007-2008
  • Manchester United Players’ Player of the Year: 2006-2007, 2007-2008
  • Manchester United Goal of the Season: 2007-2008
• Portugal
  • Portuguese Sports Personality: 2006
  • Portuguese Footballer of the Year: 2007
• Europe
  • UEFA Team of the Year: 2004, 2007
  • UEFA Champions League Top Scorer: 2007-08
  • UEFA European Championship 2004: Team of the Tournament
  • European Golden Shoe - Soulier d’Or: 2007-08
• World
  • FIFPro Special Young Player of the Year: 2005, 2006
  • FIFPro World XI: 2006-2007

  (Source wikipedia.com)

Also add another 3 FIFA player of the year 2008European Player of the year 2008UEFA Champions League player of the year 2008(there three are yet to be announced by it is probably going to be him)

Now I know that C.Ronaldo has the longer list of the two but wait a second and count the number of international recognitions C.Ronaldo has, (do not look at the PFA awards and stuff like that, these local awards mean nothing accept that Cristiano is the best in England but hang on a second, we are talking about being the best in the world and being one of the best ever in the world not in England where players like Adebayor score 25 odd goals a season) that add up to at most 9 and Ronaldo had a solid 13.

I do not think that FIFA Young Player of the Year and FIFA special young player of the year award was present when Ronaldo was 22 but still if you look at the list, most of the awards won by C.Ronaldo are local awards that are awarded within England only.

Still I do not intend to prove that C.Ronaldo is not a good player, I just intend to prove that he is not the best player( by talent and performance, he  maybe by showboating and goal statistics) in the world, he is one of the best in the world right now and to point out that C.Ronaldo has done nothing to be in the list or to be even considered in the list of all time greats.

Cristiano has to get his head down and keep progressing if he wants to be one of the greats of all time like his idol somewhat did(Luis Figo)

To further support what I think about Ronaldo vs C.Ronaldo and who was the better player I have two videos which I want you people to see that when Ronaldo dribbled he went past players after players and when C.Ronaldo dribbles he just goes past one player at max or just drifts wider and wider, does not have the composure neither the finesse to do tricks in the middle of the park like Ronaldo, Zidane and co.

His greatest weapon is his free kick, nothing else( yeah pace too)

(Source sportingo.com)

The second video somewhat also gives another perspective to who is the best player in the world( the quality of the video is not great so if you want to watch it with better quality then visit youtube.com and put in the search cristiano ronaldo vs messi 2008, the video with time 10 minutes is the one ), C.Ronaldo’s only edge is his mind blowing free kick bombs which he mostly gets in with a ratio of 1 converted of 13.

The Best Video Of Ronaldo !!! - Funny blooper videos are here Cristiano Ronaldo Vs. Lionel Messi (2008) - Funny home videos are a click away

Now I think after watching these two videos it is clearly understandable that Messi is the world’s best player right now and Ronaldo is one of the greatest of all time, who stands alongside names such as Pele, Maradonna and Zidane. Not to mention Cruyff and Best. Cristiano Ronaldo has a lot more to prove to get his worth alongside Ronaldo.

Ronaldo had unmatched speed skill and stamina

(Source www.abc.net.au)

Now some may also argue that in the video above of Ronaldo, he is on most occasions  playing at this peak and C.Ronaldo has not reached his peak. If you really want to see what Ronaldo was capable of when he was at C.Ronaldo’s age or even younger search Ronaldo goals barcelona on youtube and watch the first two results. He has scored some amazing goals which at least I have not seen any other player score.

Well I hope Cristiano has not, because as proud as he is of himself, I do not think he is ever going to reach that level. Plus the biggest obstacle that Cristiano has in his way to glory is , that he plays for fame, which at some point in the near future he will achieve if he has not achieved it already.

Doesnt look so humble there, or does he

After that, his motivation will diminish, all great players played for the love of the game and owed loyalty to someone whether that be the fans, the club, the country. Cristiano looks different from all these. Pele played for love of game, loyalty to the club (played his whole career at Santos) and pride of country. Maradonna although played for fame but he also had loyalty to his country and Napoli.

I hope he changes  as what I have read from his recent interviews he does not seem to owe loyalty to anyone

He said “ “I don’t promise nothing. I don’t promise nothing to my mum, I don’t promise nothing to supporters.”

With that said, there is no doubt that he is currently the most entertaining player in the world. I would pay just to watch him train , never mind playing a match but I think he should not betray the trust Alex Ferguson had put in him when the whole of England wanted him out and nobody wanted to buy him. I still remember Manchester United putting C.Ronaldo up for sale for 15 million pounds after the World Cup and nobody bought him.

I wish somebody had, as Real Madrid are now desperate to break bank for him. I am a Real Madrid fan but I do not want to see C.Ronaldo on Real Madrid squad from a sporting point of view, from marketing point of view , I would buy him, he is priceless.

Tags: Cristiano Ronaldo, featured, Ronaldo