02 Jun 2015 06:35:21
Very interesting reading the comments of Lionel Messi yesterday in regards to his playing future and how he plans to adapt to the game as he gets older.

He has stated he envisions himself as an out and out midfielder who will drop deep to pick up the ball. This is in stark contrast to Ronaldo who has slowly began to establish himself as a central frontman. I think this comment tells the story of both players in terms of personality and mentality.

It would be easy for Messi to do what Ronaldo has done and decide to play as a top striker for the remainder of his career while racking up the personal records and personal accolades but instead he claims to be more driven by the success of the team and winning trophy's for Barcelona, not winning trophy's for Messi.

I know many folk would love CR7 to return and it would be hard to reject the move as he is one of the best two players in the world but I would be worried about his ever growing all for Ronaldo attitude. When Bale scored that goal earlier in the season and Ronaldo was p****d because he didn't pass to him rather than celebrate with team I lost a hell of a lot of respect for him.

1.) 02 Jun 2015
02 Jun 2015 07:42:19
Yeah I agree about Ronaldo's poor attitude but I'm not sure the positional transformations of Ronaldo and Messi as they age are solely down to their mentalities. Ronaldo is a scoring machine and physically strong enough to play as a traditional center forward. Messi obviously scores plenty as well, but many of them come from picking the ball up from deep and he is equally adept at pulling the strings and finding teammates. Honestly apart from being simply the best player in the world, Messi is one of the greatest passers in the game and no doubt he would make a fine midfielder.

2.) 02 Jun 2015
02 Jun 2015 07:57:26
I hear what you are saying Ruud but I think Messi could torment defenders up top by himself with his genius alone the way Suarez does. What I am getting at is you would never hear Ronaldo come out and say he would be happy to be the man in the background pulling the strings because he has got to the point were individual glory comes first and the team comes second.

3.) 02 Jun 2015
02 Jun 2015 08:01:10
Completely agree ruud

4.) 02 Jun 2015
02 Jun 2015 08:53:06
I think it has to do with the physicality of both individuals. Ronaldo as a number 9 makes sense due to his machine like goal scoring ability and the all rounded finishing ability.

Messi, if he loses any pace will not have that burst of speed that he needs in the final third but has a better passing range than Ronaldo does.

I don't think this is about mentality, it's just common sense.

5.) 02 Jun 2015
02 Jun 2015 09:01:19
They r two different players. One was destined to break all types of records the other is a genius with the ball. Both equally as good, but I have a prefefence for Ronaldo.

I think Messi pretends to be nicer then he really is . That is my personal opinion.

6.) 02 Jun 2015
02 Jun 2015 09:19:49
Who was destined to break all sorts of records Singh?

7.) 02 Jun 2015
02 Jun 2015 09:24:29
i think messi is back playing his best football , he is a step up from everybody else

8.) 02 Jun 2015
02 Jun 2015 09:48:59
It's a topic we could go on about all day Jred with the Pele's, Best's and Maradona's of this world but Messi is the best I have ever seen both live and on the box mate.

9.) 02 Jun 2015
02 Jun 2015 10:02:50
jmb
ive always said maradona was the best I've seen i'm not sure you can get any better to be honest.
but messi is reaching that level this season , another amazing goal at the weekend

10.) 02 Jun 2015
02 Jun 2015 10:11:18
Yeah yeah Messi is such a great guy who plays for the team. That's why he he keeps demanding a new contract every year. Or perhaps the reason why he had sanchez thrown out of Barcelona because he had a beef with him. He has been potrayed as the golden boy by fifa and uefa from day 1 and that's why most fans think of him as some Eternal good boy. Don't believe ask ed007.

A Liverpool fan

11.) 02 Jun 2015
02 Jun 2015 10:57:57
reet
i don't really care about any of that , you don't have to be a saint to be a good footballer.

look at maradona

12.) 02 Jun 2015
02 Jun 2015 11:06:18
Jred
I have not said that messi is a bad player. But look at the OP. He was talking about their characters. and egos

13.) 02 Jun 2015
02 Jun 2015 11:17:29
Messi is more suited to a midfield role than Messi, not sure it says anything about how selfless Messi is, which I don't think he is in any case.

14.) 02 Jun 2015
02 Jun 2015 12:01:45
Meant 'more than Ronaldo' obv

15.) 02 Jun 2015
02 Jun 2015 13:23:12
Maradona for me was better and I've seen both playing live.

16.) 02 Jun 2015
02 Jun 2015 15:30:37
ssi is not on Pele or Maradonas level. Pele and Maradona us to play football at the time when football was much tougher. Pitches we're not as good. The teams they played in were not as talented as the one Messi is in now. So Messi is great but nor the greatest again this is just my opinion

17.) 02 Jun 2015
02 Jun 2015 14:28:43
The reason messi wants to move into midfield is because as he gets older he won't be good enough to be up front. This may sound like a crazy statement but he's really small and when his legs start going he will get bullied so much by defenders and won't be able to get into the box to shoot as much. Ronaldo will always be a big, strong player and can handle the defenders better

18.) 02 Jun 2015
02 Jun 2015 16:07:17
George Best - Legendary Dribbling Skills

Watch it, and then come back and tell me who was the best ever

19.) 02 Jun 2015
02 Jun 2015 18:52:14
I watched it, I'm convinced - THE BEST!! His name says it all !

20.) 02 Jun 2015
02 Jun 2015 19:56:56
Messi is the best that has ever played. Watched Maradona and Messi is better.

21.) 03 Jun 2015
03 Jun 2015 04:24:26
Maradona good. Pele great. George Best