© EuroFootball.com
Approaching the first "El Clasico" without hesitation - the clash between "Barcelona" and Madrid "Real" clubs, "EuroFootball.com" offers an article by BBC correspondent Jonathan Stevenson comparing the leaders of both teams - Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
If Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo wanted to shine before the upcoming "El Clasico", they succeeded perfectly - both players scored a 'hat-trick' in the last matches of the Spanish championship.
Messi and Ronaldo are currently the best players on the planet. Every week they compete at a level that others can only dream of, outshining both teammates and opponents.
Lionel and Cristiano - the last two best FIFA players of the year, and, although not stereotypical forwards, both have won the most prolific Old Continent player award - the "Golden Boot" - in the last three years. This season, together, the Argentine and the Portuguese have already scored 27 goals - four more than the third-most prolific team in the country, "Villarreal".
"What else can be said about Messi?" - rhetorically asked Barcelona goalkeeper Andres Iniesta after his colleague's three-goal show in an 8-0 victory against "Almeria". - "There are simply no words. Let's hope he continues to play like he does now."
However, later that same evening, Ronaldo silenced the talk about Messi, also scoring three goals in a 5-1 match against Bilbao "Athletic". Surpassing Messi in the top scorers' list with one precise strike, he said: "I am very happy that I scored, but what's most important is that we are the leaders. The 8-0 win for Barca means nothing to me. We'll see if they can score as much against us."
Already this Monday, the eyes of all football fans around the world will be on Barcelona, where the local team will host "Real" in the first season's "El Clasico". Currently, in the league table, the Madrid team leads their opponents by one point, but intrigue does not lack, regardless of the numbers. After all, Jose Mourinho returns to "Camp Nou", where last season, to the dismay of local fans, he let out emotions after the Champions League semifinal victory against Milan's "Inter". This will be his first "El Clasico".
However, when referee Eduardo Gonzalez announces the start of the match, all eyes will be on Messi and Ronaldo. The two leaders of the teams, who probably will have the greatest impact on the final result and the fate of the entire championship.
There is a lot written about these two completely different personalities: Messi - humble, once a very vulnerable boy from Argentina, who at the age of 13 packed his bags and ended up under the care of the "Barcelona" club. And Ronaldo - always tanned Portuguese, with a well-built body and arrogance that matches his €96 million price tag.
Perhaps these unique differences between the two exceptional players allow them to be compared. I asked about this to "Hercules" defender Noe Pamaroto, who had to wrestle with both over the past three months.
"The statistics of both - impressive. It's just unbelievable how many goals they score," said Pamaroto. "But they are different. Both are fast and technical, but, in my opinion, Messi mainly plays for the team, which makes him more dangerous. Lionel does not always try to score himself - if he fails to do so, the Argentine makes a pass or otherwise influences the course of the match.
"There is no doubt - they are the best at the moment. But Messi is very, very special. He proves that he is very different from all the others. Can Leo become the best player of all time? If he continues to play like this for another year, he can equal or even surpass Diego Maradona and Pele. Why not?"
Pamaroto's thoughts made me recall a study conducted at the University of Coruna in Spain on Messi and Ronaldo. The results showed that 80% of "Barcelona" team attacks involved active participation from Messi during passes. Ronaldo's statistics in Madrid - 60%. When Lionel gets the ball, his only thought is how to make sure it lands in the opponents' net. When Cristiano has the ball, his thought varies slightly - how to send the ball to the net himself.
Interestingly, in short distances over the first five meters, Messi reaches a speed of 20 km/h, while C. Ronaldo reaches 18 km/h. However, at a distance of 12-16 meters, the Portuguese gains an advantage - 30 km/h against 28 km/h.
Another aspect - the ball struck by Ronaldo flies at a speed of 119 km/h, while Messi's only at 95 km/h.
When the "Barcelona" team plays an attacking, fast-paced, and passing-based team game, it attracts everyone's attention. An alternative to it is C. Ronaldo, characterized by selfishness when near the opponents' goal. However, the Portuguese style, aesthetically speaking, is a slightly inferior alternative compared to the Catalans' game.
Another player who has faced both virtuosos is the Ivory Coast national team member, Didier Zokora. The 29-year-old "Sevilla" player has competed against Ronaldo in the English championship for years and recently saw Messi score two goals against his team.
"They are both excellent players, but I would give preference to Messi," said Zokora. "Messi controls the ball perfectly, while Ronaldo strikes impressively. Stopping them is extremely difficult - both are incredibly fast."
Now let's talk about the numbers provided by "Infostrada Sports".
Lionel Messi:
- 22 goals in 17 matches for "Barcelona" team this season
- 54 goals in 48 matches for "Barcelona" team in 2010
- scored at least one goal in nine consecutive matches
- in the last five seasons scored: 17, 16, 38, 47, 22 (so far).
Cristiano Ronaldo:
- 16 goals in 18 matches for the "Real" team this season
- 38 goals in 42 matches for the "Real" team in 2010
- 14 goals in 12 Spanish league matches this season
- last five seasons (first three - at "Man Utd" club) - 23, 42, 26, 33, 16 (so far)
According to the researchers at the University of Coruna, Messi and Ronaldo are linked not only by their impressive goal statistics but also by being the fastest ball carriers in history.
Asked which player is easier to play against, Pamaroto joked, "Seriously? Well, I like playing against both, as it tests your abilities very well."
On Monday, 98,000 spectators at the "Camp Nou" stadium and millions in front of television screens will witness the showdown of these phenomenal footballers face to face. Both the Argentine and the Portuguese will have something to prove - Messi has never scored or made an assist playing against a team led by Jose Mourinho. Ronaldo, in five attempts, has never managed to score against Barcelona.
Maradona, Pele, and Johan Cruyff showcased their best football at different times. And we will be able to witness the duel of future legends with our own eyes - we should be grateful for that.
