The greatest football rivalries in generation
Growing up on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean in a little community with no recreational activities, public parks, or kid-friendly places. There wasn’t any organized event or activities for kid. The only safe places we knew were miles-long beaches with various outdoor sporting activities. The beaches were divided into various sections for respective sports.
Sports created unity among people and football was like a breach umbrella that create shade for people. Football was all we knew and had. It was the language we spoke, the water we drink, and the air we breathe. Football was us. Despite being surrounded by gunshots, pains, trauma, heartbreak, and a loss of hope, football was like the torch that brightens the thinnest darkest. Football is life to us.
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Mighty Barrolle was my first favorite team. I fell in love with her, and all the joy she brought to me on the pitch. I took pride in her history and legacy. the beautiful game of football. I wasn’t alone to feel the pain of her loss to another team. We fell in love with her Red jersey and the energies of her fans. The older I get the more my team fade from the peak it was once noted for.
Like many sports, there are rivalries, intentional and at it non-intentional. Football isn’t expectational. Games are made up of breathtaking movements, late goals, controversial calls from referees, and celebrations. It's arguable that football is the most passionate sport. The passion for the beautiful games can be felt on and off the pitch. With such passion lead to unprecedented rivalries among fans, clubs, managers, and most interestingly the players. Players that are striving for personal achievement, and team success. Players that are competing for titles, players that run to break records, and players that hate each other. All of this happens simultaneously. Football has so many zealous rivalries from decade to decade. Fans are the engineer and intensify rivalries. Today, fans take sports rivalries to a new dimension by creating blogs, social media group pages, and websites to further ample their ideas to their decision.
Today’s generation is blessed to witness one of the longest and most intense rivalries in football. The Messi-Ronaldo rivalries. There is no argument that Messi and Ronaldo elevated the game of football in various styles and dimensions. The two men brought style and pace to the games with their lighting run, their possession, moves with the ball, their shots, and overall magical skills and ability to eliminate their opponent. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are both legends in the world of football. They’re considered “golden gems” of the sport. Messi is like a magician on the patch and his fans at times referred to him as “Magical Lionel Messi” because he’s considered to be the greatest dribbler Cristiano Ronaldo is considered a wizard on the pitch because of his traits, speed, and skills. Both players are forwards making them one of the greatest goal-punchers. Messi has scored 563 goals at his club and 65 goals for his national team, Argentina while the Portuguese have scored 577 goals for his clubs and 85 for his national team. They both are prolific scorers. As prolific scorers, they are considered heroes of goals because they can score from literally the tightest and sharpest spaces and angles.
Breakdown of the two greatest football players in my generation that was published
Lionel Messi
- Born: 24 June 1987
- Clubs: Barcelona (2004-present)
- Nationality: Argentine
- Ballon d’Or wins: 5 wins (2015, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009)
- The Best Fifa Men’s Player: 1 (2019)
- Champions League winners’ medals - 4: 2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2014–15 (all with Barcelona)
- Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award: 1 (2019, joint winner with Lewis Hamilton)
Cristiano Ronaldo
- Born: 5 February 1985
- Clubs: Juventus (2018-present); Real Madrid (2009-2018); Manchester United (2003-09); Sporting Lisbon (2002-03)
- Nationality: Portuguese
- Ballon d’Or wins: 5 wins (2017, 2016, 2014, 2013, 2008)
- The Best Fifa Men’s Player: 2 wins (2016 and 2017)
- Champions League winners’ medals - 5: 2007–08 with Man Utd; 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17, and 2017–18 with Real Madrid
All-time career (club and country, but excluding club friendlies)
- Ronaldo: 725 goals and 221 assists in 1,000 appearances
- Messi: 697 goals and 289 assists in 856 appearances
- Hat-tricks: Ronaldo 56; Messi 54
- Career goal ratio: Ronaldo 0.73; Messi 0.82
- Penalties: Ronaldo 121 (23 missed); Messi 87 (26 missed)
Club career (excluding friendlies)
- Ronaldo: 626 goals and 193 assists in 836 appearances
- Messi: 627 goals and 247 assists in 718 appearances
- Hat-tricks: Ronaldo 47; Messi 48
- Club goal ratio: Ronaldo 0.75; Messi 0.88
- Penalties: Ronaldo 110 (17 missed); Messi 73 (22 missed)
Ronaldo vs. Messi in European football
Statistics according to Uefa.com (as of 12 March 2020):
- Champions League goals (group stage to final): Ronaldo 128 (105 for Real Madrid; 15 for Man Utd; 8 for Juventus); Messi 114 (all for Barcelona)
- Total Uefa competition goals: Ronaldo 131; Messi 117
- Champions League hat-tricks: Ronaldo 8; Messi 8
- All-time Champions League group stage goals: Ronaldo 63; Messi 68
- Did you know? Ronaldo is the only player to score in three Uefa Champions League finals and the first to score in 11 successive Champions League matches
Champions League head-to-head
- Ronaldo's career Champions League goals: 128 (105 for Real Madrid; 15 for Man Utd; 8 for Juventus)
- Ronaldo Champions League winners’ medals - 5: 2007–08 (with Man Utd); 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18 (with Real Madrid)
- Ronaldo in 2018-19: 6 goals, 2 assists, 9 matches, 1 hat-trick
- Career Champions League hat-tricks: 8 each
- Messi's career Champions League goals: 114 (all for Barcelona)
- Messi Champions League winners’ medals - 4: 2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2014–15 (all with Barcelona)
- Messi in 2018-19: 12 goals, 3 assists, 10 matches, 1 hat-trick.
Messi and Ronaldo remain the greatest players to grace the pitch in recent memory. They continue to fascinate fans by maintaining their prime games' spirits. The duo delivered their best whenever they touch the pitch over the last decade plus. Messi and Ronaldo continue to compete for everything including Ballon d'Or for over a decade. They both have shared the Ballon d’Or for ten years.
Messi and Ronaldo share a mutual respect for each other, even when they play for rival clubs. Contrary to the player's mutual respect, their growing respective fan seem to like one and hate the other. Messi and Ronaldo's rival went bitter when they play for the greatest rivals in the Spanish league in Spain, yet the duo with supremely different talents and styles continue to lift our spirit and increases our passion week after week on the pitch. I wonder if when they age and retire from football, we all can look back at their careers and will better understand and appreciate the incredible talent they are.
References
- “Lionel Messi vs. Cristiano Ronaldo: career records, all-time goals, assists, awards, trophies, hat-tricks” https://www.theweek.co.uk/football/90293/ronaldo-vs-messi-the-rivalry-statistics-goals-awards-hat-tricks-trophies
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