(July 18, 2014 at 4:43 pm)Napoléon Wrote:(July 18, 2014 at 4:19 pm)Tobie Wrote: Messi is the better player purely because he is a better team player - the most successful sides are the ones that work together the best, not revolve around some star player (look at Brazil, they fell apart without Neymar).
He might be more of a team player (although Ronaldo got more assists than Messi last season) but he's not a better player. He has nowhere near as much in his locker as what Ronaldo does. Ronaldo scores headers, free kicks, 40 yard screamers. Messi doesn't really do any of these. Besides, Ronaldo is a supreme athlete. He's built like a fucking action figure. He's stronger, faster, can jump higher. His all round game is much better than Messi's.
It's funny you say that the most successful sides are ones that work together and not built around one player. As if Barcelona have been dominant all these years because of anyone other that Messi? You take him out of that side and where do the goals come from? You take Ronaldo out of Real and they still have goals from Di Maria, Benzema and Bale. Barcelona is a team built around Messi. Even when Guardiola was there, he admitted his tactic was basically "get it to Messi". You see what happens when a manager like Tata Martinez tries to mess with that system. Barca basically failed last season because they tried to be more of a 'team'. Real Madrid is just a team full of superstars too, but I'd say they are just as much a 'team' than Barca are.
Another point, you put Ronaldo in any other team in the world and he'll still score 40 goals a season. You can't say the same for Messi. Again, Barca are completely built around him.
Fair enough, I submit to your greater knowledge. In my defense however, team football is much better to watch.
If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world. - J.R.R Tolkien
