For football/soccer fans, predictions for the World Cup

[BlackMason]

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.

I disagree. Messi does score freekicks. His freekicks are a lot more skillful and therefore more impressive than Ronaldo's. Ronaldo relies on brute power for his. Messi scored an amazing freekick this world cup against Nigeria I think. I also remember a very sumptuous freekick in a classico that ended in a high scoring draw. Ronaldo is faster but negligibly so; Messi ain't no slow coach. His acceleration is better than Ronaldo's by the way which is a more effective tool for leaving men eating dust. On your point of Ronaldo being stronger, in what sense do you mean? When I watch soccer it is Messi who is less likely to dive. He's more resilient on his feet. He takes tackles better than Ronaldo.

A skill that Messi has that's been overlooked here is his remarkable close ball control. It's like the ball is glued to his feet. When it come to attacking, Messi is more likely to retain possession of the ball compared to Ronaldo.

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.

That is highly debatable. Both Messi and Ronaldo are players that command that the tactics of any team have them featuring in the starring role. Now Messi is a one club player. Why should that be a point lost on his part? To assert/imply that Messi can't score as prolifically in another team is a bit of an argument from ignorance.