RONALDINHO HAS PRAISED Cristiano Ronaldo, saying he is a “complete” player, but says “magic” Lionel Messi is better.
The Barcelona star and Real Madrid talisman have both been named in the final three for the 2014 Ballon d’Or alongside Bayern Munich and Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
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And Messi’s former Barca team-mate insists that the Argentina captain is the better of La Liga’s superstars.
“We players asked [then Barca coach] Frank Rijkaard to bring Messi into the first team’s training sessions,” he told El Enganche.
“Cristiano Ronaldo is a very complete player, but Messi is better because he has magic.”
The former Brazil star revealed that he almost joined Manchester United, but it was former president Sandro Rosell who convinced him to join the Camp Nou side.
“Everything was beautiful and happened fast. A great friend of mine was about to become a part of the Barcelona board: Sandro Rosell.
“Before the offers came, he had asked me if I would play in Barcelona when they won the election and became the presidents, and I had said ‘Yes’.
“I was almost on my way to Manchester United and only the details needed to be put onto that deal. But in the last minute Rosell called me to tell me they would win the election. That made everything happen fast.
“I wanted to play in Barcelona. When I signed, I didn’t feel pressure, I felt joy. I had the chance that all of the players wanted, to play in a great club like Barcelona.
“I had the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of my idols. I was proud to play where Romario, Ronaldo and Rivaldo had played and I had the chance to be Barcelona’s new ‘R’. I loved that.”
There is truth to what he says. Ronaldo has reached the heights of the game primarily by athletic prowess and physical conditioning, Messi more so by shear natural talent.
Takes a lot more than physical prowess and physical conditioning to get where Ronaldo is, if you go to almost any gym nowadays there are plenty of people in peak physical condition but nowhere near his footballing level, a lot of its is also down to natural talent sure he may not be as much of a natural as messi but he sure is close and what he lacks he makes up by hard work in the gym.
Stupid comment! Messi was picked from a young age had everything he needed to become a star, you’re right probably more of a natural talent. Ronaldo clearly had the talent too, but came from a poor part of Portugal.
But he trained like a boss, made himself better in every way possible and through sheer dedication.
Look at him when he first came to United and look at him now, the talent was quite obviously there but he was quite raw and with practicing his trade he made himself number one.
They’re both great in their own right.
But the only reason I give it to Ronaldo is his training he is a machine and the fact that neither Man U in the past nor Real Madrid currently would have been as powerful without him.
Whereas Barcelona I feel could cope quite well with the talent they’ve had over the last half a decade or so without Messi.
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There is truth to what he says. Ronaldo has reached the heights of the game primarily by athletic prowess and physical conditioning, Messi more so by shear natural talent.
He’s alright with a football at his feet too.
Takes a lot more than physical prowess and physical conditioning to get where Ronaldo is, if you go to almost any gym nowadays there are plenty of people in peak physical condition but nowhere near his footballing level, a lot of its is also down to natural talent sure he may not be as much of a natural as messi but he sure is close and what he lacks he makes up by hard work in the gym.
Stupid comment! Messi was picked from a young age had everything he needed to become a star, you’re right probably more of a natural talent. Ronaldo clearly had the talent too, but came from a poor part of Portugal.
But he trained like a boss, made himself better in every way possible and through sheer dedication.
Look at him when he first came to United and look at him now, the talent was quite obviously there but he was quite raw and with practicing his trade he made himself number one.
They’re both great in their own right.
But the only reason I give it to Ronaldo is his training he is a machine and the fact that neither Man U in the past nor Real Madrid currently would have been as powerful without him.
Whereas Barcelona I feel could cope quite well with the talent they’ve had over the last half a decade or so without Messi.
I think Messi is better in general, but Ronaldo was better this past year and deserves the ballon d’or