With two very contrasting performances in the books from today: one step-over laden, but ultimately disappointing performance from CR7; and one majestic performance from Messi against one of the world powers in football. We’ve asked the questions hundreds, if not thousands, of times…why can the world’s greatest performers not produce the same level of magic on the international stage?
The excuses for Messi are lengthy. The diminutive Argentine has largely taken advantage of his ‘nice-guy’ image and has only recently come under a large amount of heat for his international accolades. Many feel that Messi is just a successful cog in the Barcelona machine, and (once removed) he struggles. This thought is easy to grab on to. Who wouldn’t experience a major drop off when you switch from Xavi feeding you the ball to ANY other midfielder feeding the ball to you? Messi has long scored against the superior talent that is found in the Champions League, proving that he can score at will against the best defenses in the world. However, when he plays on the international level, against defenses that have less time to become cohesive than defenses playing for clubs, he hasn’t experienced the same goal return.
Ronaldo has played this past season as if he was offended by his 3 year Ballon D’or snub, winning a league title for Real Madrid and, perhaps more importantly, stealing a trophy from Barcelona. He has always seemed to add new tricks and flicks to his arsenal every single year. I, a long-time non-CR7-fan, was very impressed with how much he tried to stay on his feet this season after tackles. Sure, he still takes more dives than I’d like him to, but he normally ends up on the ground because he is on the bottom of a dog-pile after he scores a goal. His international issues seem to weigh heavier on him than Messi. He always looks as if he is wearing the weight of the entire Portugal team on his shoulders, and it always seems as if he is trying just a bit too hard.
Which player will finally break through and start putting serious pressure on Pele to stop claiming his indefinite superiority?
On June 9th we saw two completely different performances from the two players. Messi made sure that Brazil don’t assume that they will easily dominate every team located in their hemisphere. His three goals were impressive and, with the fact that they came against the behemoth that is Brazil, I’m sure the footy talk will already be crowning Argentina major contenders in the next World Cup. Ronaldo’s performance was quite the opposite. His team limped in to the European Championships, resulting in their seeding being within a group that certainly isn’t going to help his situation. I certainly felt like Ronaldo helped lead a late charge at a comeback, but, with a very impressive team flanking the Portuguese superstar, we have to wonder if he will ever even have an outside sniff of bringing home a big international trophy.
One key for Messi has been the recent Argentinian national team shift to attempt to make Messi feel more ‘comfortable.’ They haven’t adopted a 100% Barcelona/Spain copy, but they are certainly attempting to create an environment where Messi feels as ‘at home’ as possible.
One key for Ronaldo needs to be his teammates taking pressure off of his back. They definitely need to take some of the scoring load off of CR’s back, but they also need to prove that they can win whether Ronaldo has a good or bad day.
Sure, this is only the first game of the Euro’s. Ronaldo could flip a switch and go on a scoring run that the Euro’s have never experienced before. Yeah, it’s only one game against Brazil…and they probably didn’t treat it with the importance of something like a World Cup Final. Messi could have had his best international performance today, and it may not ever be replicated by Lionel (I’m sure it will…but…you never know).
I’m not ready to bury Messi and Ronaldo’s international future quite yet, but they definitely have given a compelling story-line to every major tournament that they choose to participate in. Which player do you think will experience international success first? Will either of them ever be able to boast a resume, just based on winnner’s medals alone, like Pele’s?
About drewplaysbass
Screw Messi. He’s a troll. His international team is better and Ronaldo still does it all for club and country. CR7 is the best player in the world. Without Barça, Messi would never achieve the success he has.
is CR7 a 3 in a row ballon d’or winner? I am an arsenal fan but messi is better
Tony you’re clueless. What more can Messi do to convince you haters? The guy is amazing. Cristiano is also excellent but nowhere near better than Messi.
You failed to mention that Messi played against Brasil’s Olympic team. While a hat trick is always impressive, Lionel’s feat would’ve been much harder against a full strength Brasil team.
um… who else does brasil have to call up? since they sacked their older players, they really don’t have that many players that are over 23, so, this almost was brasil’s full strength team.
That is a fair point Kevo. Especially with Silva being out through injury…
Dani Alves, David Luiz, Maicon, Ramires, and Julio Cesar all did not play so pretty much their entire defense did not play
Thiago Silva & Daniel Alves, are a big miss for Brazil, don’t think Messi wouldve done the same with them playing.
Did you see Messi yesterday? I’m a big Ronaldo fan and believe Ronaldo could be better than Messi but it’s stuff like what I saw yesterday against Brazil that leaves me in awe.
in the germany game ronoldo set up 3 chances for his teammates to score and they all blew it. if ronaldo could have recieved the passes he made then he would have scored. plus germany were constantly had boetang marking ronaldo w/ the help of two more players at time. i only saw the last goal messi scored against brazil and he basically took it form the center half to the box w/ out much intervention form the brazilian defense. i would say that messi is better at tracking back cause at times in the germany game ronaldo didnt realy help out on defense and walked around a lot unless he was going for a ball
That almost same German team destroyed Messi and Co. during the WC and Portugal lost by a goal. Messi barely beat a team of u23 players.
I totally agree! Messi doesnt do anything agains a big European team but Ronaldo can stil get some great passes and make his way through the defence. Another thing to point out; Messi plays in a center role closer to the goal while Ronaldo plays on the sides.
How about a simpler reason…The international scene is not laden with 2nd and 3rd tier defenders.
Please tell me this article was written BEFORE Messi’s performance against Brazil?
Nope, after. People seem to forget that Brazil aren’t the team they once were. Also, it was the Olympic squad – very young and inexperienced. Sure, it was a nice hat-trick, but it is being over-hyped to the point where it’s some unobtainable feat. If he had done it against a similar squad to the Brazil team of 8 – 10 years ago, then I’d take my hat off to him.
Did anyone read the entirety of the article before commenting?
Lol. Yeah, that’s annoying when you spend time writing an intelligent article and people react over the title without reading the whole thing. Anyways, great article!
How is Brazil not the team they once were. It is just a matter of these younger Brazilian players getting more experience on the international level. Plus does every one forget that Messi is still only 24. Most playes don’t hit their prime unitill they are 27, 28, so he stil has lots of time to catch up.
Don´t forget when Ronaldo start dominate all around a world. Yes, in this time Messi was still in La Masia. Ronaldo is 3years older, his performance are in TOP level over 7years(from 2004-05). We will see Messi next 3 years, if he will keep his TOP level like Ronaldo.
Another facts is Ronaldo has always less good teamates than Messi.
In his ManUtd era, he must fight with Chelsea,AC Milan, even with Barcelona. This teams have more powerfull players than ManchesterUnited has. Barcelona had Ronaldinho,Etoo,Henry,Xavi,Iniesta = in their best football age.
Chelsea was full of best players too, Lamps,Terry,Cech,Robben,Drogba,Shevcenko,Crespo,..=in their best football age. And Mourinho
Ronaldo has less TOP teamates Giggs(old),Rooney(young),van der Saar. But he still ruled EPL,Champ.League.
Now in his Real Madrid era, we all see that Real has not too much TOP players. Even young players from La Masia are better than some regular Real Madrid players. Is amazing how this year Real Madrid won la Liga. Is amazing Ronaldo stat for RM 138matches 141 goals. What did you want more? For me Real Madrid without Ronaldo, can reach only 3-4th place in la Liga.
In 2010 ballon d´Or should get Xavi or Iniesta instead Messi. In 2011 ballon d´Or should get Snejder instead Messi. Their performance are better for nat.team, for clubs than Messi. For me Messi deserve only 1 ballon d´Or. This day players n coach vote for skill, not for good perfomances a results for team,nat.team. What a shame. Truly Xavi n Snejder deserve it…
The greatest international individual performance I have seen must be Zidane vs Brazil 2006 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7f3_ceNnrw . If Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo are able to do a similar show against such a good team I’ll guarantee they have preformed superb.