Because OBVIOUSLY I can’t do a detailed statistical breakdown of Netzer’s passing. You brought up Netzer’s name as some sort of benchmark for great long passing with which to favourably compare Messi to. Fortunately there has been a more recent generational long passer whose playing days crossed over with Messi’s generation just enough to provide us with a sizeable amount of data on what a generational long passer looks like. And it turns out, statistically at least, Messi isn’t even close...
The analogy doesn't work here Problem with this is the range of Maradonas crossing isnt in the same league as David Beckhams Messis range of long passing isnt inferior to netzer( or even pirlo whos name you randomly inserted into the conversation) He may not use as consistently as those names but he has it in his locker to execute any type of medium to long range pass Maradona never had it in his locker to execute any type of cross David Beckham delivered I mean Maradona was a really really great crosser(way better then Messi for sure) Arguably as good as any orthodox winger of his era but David Beckham is a benchmark in a way that Gerd muller is a benchmark in finishing in the box or in a way baresi is a reference point in one vs one defending So even if maradonas crosses per 90 would exponentially increase in another system he still wouldn't be as good a crosser if nothing he showed in his career demonstrated he had the range of david Beckhams crosses Manchester United era Real Madrid era
Does he have it in his locker to execute any medium to long range pass as well as the players you’re comparing him to? I don’t know if you realise how many players are more than capable of making a switch pass, a diagonal long pass, and even an over-the-top Hail Mary pass. Doing this is not something that automatically makes you Pirlo-level. My observations of Messi’s long passing points to inconsistencies, sometimes they have the ideal velocity, sometimes they don’t, sometimes they have near-ideal precision, sometimes they bounce many yards away from their target, sometimes only getting through due to gaping holes in the defence. He has a flawed technique that is of a lower order than Pirlo’s. You will see that as well if you compare his best ones with Pirlo’s best ones, a difference in velocities and precisions. But whatever, obviously I’m only judging by eye, I don’t have a scientific measurement calculating pass accuracies to the nearest centimetres or velocities to inches per second. If your eyes tell you something different than mine then so be it. I never said Maradona’s crossing is as good as Beckham’s. That’s why I analogised it to comparing Messi’s long pass and Pirlo’s superior long pass. So the analogy was perfect, in that sense.
Fair enough. If nothing else it got me watching Pirlo's long pass compilations and he is near enough perfect at them. His early Juve seasons had so many perfectly weighted passes to Lichtsteiner.
So if you cant do a detailed statistical study of netzer you cant critic my post in any meaningful way My comments re netzer are merely based on observing footage Someone with data(who interprets it correctly)is able to critic me You have no data nor can you interpret it correctly What youve shown me is a generational long ball specialist whos primary function was ball distribution is more prolific then Messi in this regard If pirlo was tasked to operate in a zone 20 yards closer to goal those numbers would automatically be halved if not more Calculator nobody can be Maradona,Gerd muller and George best at the same time at least not in the sense some are accusing me off Messi however has(had?) it in his locker to dribble,create and score like the best of them He is one of the top 5 official goalscorers in the history of football yet some of his greatest performances include those matches where he doesn't even score I know Matter of fact We both know why you took issue with my statement You are a lover of statistics "The statistics at least demonstrate...." In roughly 7 years at Napoli (1984-1991) maradona scored 74 non penalty goals for the club in all competitions One of those 74 non penalty goals was a blatant handball vs udinese in 1984/85 leaving him with 73 non penalty/non cheating goals In one season Lionel Messi scored 73 goals for FC Barcelona Somebody should do a goal involvement exercise of Maradonas entire napoli career vs Lionel messi in 2011/12 That would be fairer and more interesting What do you reckon?
One of the better comps re Pele IMO(comparing his creative abilities to some other legends with examples which are in most cases similar)
I’ll just say again what I said to Ed, whoscored.com uses an extremely liberal inclusive criteria for a long pass. Basically a switch of play from right-of-centre to left-of-centre is a long pass, a through pass or chip pass from 35 yards to the penalty spot is a long pass, less far out than that the more there is a diagonal dimension to the pass (a straight pass is quite rare anyway). These are all types of passes that Messi is supposedly legendary at, actually the Barcelona system for many years exploited these types of patterns involving Messi as the playmaker, with speedy forwards and wide men making forward runs as soon as Messi get the ball in a position to see and play a long pass. He has little excuse for his lack of output compared to a legendary long passer. There is a drop in his passing effectiveness when the distances involved are stretched beyond the short range intricate passing. In his entire career Lionel Messi has never scored a goal from open play from 30 yards or more, (he came close one time against PSG from nearly 30 yards, where he laced the ball like cwistiano, which does not easily transfer to accurate long passing ). Why should I mention this? Because, Pirlo’s immense long pass technique transfers to long shots in open play. Unlike, for example, Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo hasn’t scored a 30 yarder since the age of 31 in about 300 games. Ronaldo hasn’t scored a +30 yard screamer since the age of 27 in about 530 games. Why? Because Ronaldo had a high force to velocity ratio shot technique. As his physical strength went down over the years so did his capacity to score screamers. That high force shot does not transfer well to accurate long passing. Pirlo on the other hand, who was never even a strong athlete in his prime, was continuing to ‘bang’ 35 yard screamers into top corners well into his mid-to-late 30s. Why? Because his shot was pure technique, with a low force to velocity ratio. Huge velocity from little force, the ‘effortless looking’ banger. This transfers very well to accurate long passing. The fact that Pirlo could do these, Messi can’t, (neither can Ronaldo), is more evidence that a genuine master of long passing, is on a higher level than your false Gods, in specific aspects of the game. (Scrap the theory that LM10 and CR7 are not only the best, but ‘the best at everything’, it’s complete and utter bullshit) Pirlo at the age of 31: “But, but, but... Messi can do that too he just chooses not to ” Pirlo at the age of 35: “but but remember Cristiano’s prime thighs back before they had expired ”
Another British footballer who played in most positions, including goalkeeper, was Jackie Blanchflower.
Your dates are all over the place Calculations even worse It seems youre suffering from a inferiority complex always taking issue when i say favourable things about the big 2 of this era Just briefly Check Ronaldo vs Celta vigo in March 2016 That debunks half of your post I don't need more examples but ill give you some anyways Check the goals Vs udinese in 2018 Vs Armenia in 2015 Vs lyon in 2020 Vs genoa in 2020 These are all within the 25 - 35 yard range and post 30 years old Before the age of 27 he was the most dangerous shooter from out of box in the history of football bar non More then Pele and even more then Eusebio Between 2003/04 and 2011/12 he scored 49 goals from outside the box in the league and champions league We add on internationals and that number rises to 57 goals from outside the box by the age of 27 years old https://www.messivsronaldo.app/detailed-stats/outside-box-goals/ https://www.whoscored.com/Players/5583/History/Cristiano-Ronaldo Andrea pirlo scored 59 non penalty goals in his entire career for club and country Its not a contest This video is 16 minutes long 16 minutes long for only his goals outside the box Official goals in official matches Not from well choreographed war movies and not 'rare footage' of Maradona playing 5 a side on mud pitches in the barrio Something like this may of happened at some point in history but it is not recorded on footage for any player in any competitive league. If you said Gheorghe Hagi or pavel nedved we can perhaps talk about something interesting but your analogies are rubbish,calculations wrong and your biases clear for anyone to see Unfortunately it is always someone like you who turns a good thread into a shit throwing contest Cristiano Ronaldo isnt the most complete player of all time I don't argue in favour of things that are nonsensical and i have my reservations about certain aspects of his skillset at certain moments of his career He is though a demonstrably superior goalscorer then Diego Maradona ever was Accept it You cannot accept it that's why you are behaving extremely salty and attempting to misrepresent me every other page now He is a superior goalscorer to Maradona whether that be in South America ,Europe or planet Mars A vastly vastly superior goalscorer The problem with many here is they lack objectivity Even amongst the very very good posters Its disingenuous when people say stuff like The only thing Robert lewandowski is better at then Figo is finishing and then go on to list then advantages of Figo. overstating his creative and artistic qualities due to a biased preference of a particular style of football Very misleading Fernando morientes was merely a better finisher then Luis figo Robert lewandowski is so vastly superior to figo in the art of finishing that his record will make generations after question if Figo actually knew what scoring was This isn't an attack of Figo nor is it an endorsement of lewandowski to be considered his equal I could've swapped lewandowski with Gerd muller and Figo with iniesta Everything has its place in the discussion but the effectiveness of a player will always take precedence in any meaningful debate The effectiveness of a player isn't something abstract or intangible On the contrary it is something well defined and measurable I have my reasons for believing that there has never been a more dominant player next to his contemporaries then Messi during the latter half of 2009/10 up until his injury in 2012/13 I have my reasons to believe Cristiano Ronaldo is the best European player of all time having achieved the level of best player in the world playing as a wide midfielder in a 4-4-2(2007 and 2008) then a quasi inverted winger/striker in a fluid 4-3-3 under Carlo ancelotti(2013 and 2014) The legacy was enhanced by the three peat era at real Madrid Not made by it In the same way 7 matches at the 2002 world cup propelled Ronaldo nazario a few places up the ATG ladder So did the multi goal performances vs bayern Munich,atletico and juventus on route to 3 European cups wins Before the Zidane era it cannot be ignored Ronaldo was actually a fair and objective winner of 3 ballon dors and finished second on the podium on 4 seperate occasions Ballon dors were lost with back to back seasons scoring 40+ goals in the league in 2010/11 and 2011/12 Think about that Ballon dors were won with higher Whoscored ratings then Lionel messi in both the 2013 and 2014 calender years https://www.messivsronaldo.app/calendar-year-stats/2013/ https://www.messivsronaldo.app/calendar-year-stats/2014/ I don't believe CR7 shouldve won in 2016 but then i do believe he should've won in 2007 2017 is questionable too but not enough to remove him from the podium altogether Honestly id prefer to talk about some other players One thing for sure neither Cristiano Ronaldo,Lionel Messi or Diego Maradona are in the conversation for best complete overall player So maybe we can agree on something after all
You know as well as I know that the range that he is a threat from has decreased over the years. In his 30s a high 20s pushing on 30 yarder is his ceiling. Before it was high 30s pushing on 40 yards. A hyperbolic statement without much evidence. Of course it’s not a contest. Pirlo scored goals from maximum distances that Ronaldo scored from in his physical peak. That has nothing to do with Pirlo being a better goal scorer, it’s about his reliance on technique instead of strength. You keep replying to me about Maradona as if this has something to do with Maradona. I am not Maradona’s representative, or here to be a propagandist like Bella Kona, Messi TheBoss, or Matigolvidz. I have never made comments like “maradona is the best long passer, maradona is the best crosser, maradona is the best goal scorer”, either at the same time or at different times. Nope. Statistical models are very crude measurements. The amount of data absorbed by the human eye vastly exceeds the few hundred variables analysts use in their statistical models. The fact that we don’t have scientific instruments sophisticated enough to extract measurements of every piece of qualitative data that remains intangible that the eye sees, doesn’t mean that the qualitative intangible data isn’t valid somehow. Funnily enough no, we don’t agree. Realistically both Messi and Maradona probably are at least in the conversation for being the best complete players, even if they’re not the favourite to win that conversation.
That is not an unfair argument, but at the same time, it is a problematic slippery slope; in the context of passing ability, frequency has a lot to do with vision, in other words, technical ability and visionary ability are not necessarily the same thing. Some players can be roughly equal in terms of passing technique, while at the same time being significantly different in terms of passing vision. In my opinion, Pirlo is by a significant margin a better visionary when it comes to long ball assist playmaking; and again, better vision, is equivalent to better frequency. Moreover, I think that the above argument is comprehensively self-evident throughout Messi's Argentina career; Messi plays the same exact 'signature' passes, for Barcelona and/or for Argentina, and Messi has done this throughout his career. The best example of this reality is perhaps World Cup 2014; specifically the Argentina vs. Bosnia game, where Messi is outstandingly mediocre in his function as a playmaker; Messi is one-dimensional in his function as a passer, and yes, while it is technically correct to say that in the end a Messi wonder goal decides the game, it is also objectively correct that Messi's passing made very bad use of Aguero's style of play. For example, compare Maradona's versatile passing style at World Cup 1990, versus Messi's typical passing style at all the cups he has played over the years. Maradona plays a lot of different type of passes, which is why he doesn't need Argentina to be extremely cohesive off-the-ball, in order to himself look good as a passer. On the other hand, how many high quality passes do we see from Messi at World Cup 2018 and/or World Cup 2014? For example, what happens to Messi's signature long ball to Jordi Alba? Messi's signature long ball becomes almost borderline obsolete in the absence of Jordi Alba, and probably in equal measure, in the absence of Barcelona's well-oiled positional play. Messi's technique as a passer is comparable to Pirlo's, but there doesn't appear to be much of any strong indication that Messi's vision as a passer is as versatile as Pirlo's. Maybe Pirlo has better vision as a result of better practice, given that Pirlo gets a lot more practice because of his role; but again, more practice, while not an unreasonable argument, does not change the reality that it is Pirlo who has better vision, ergo, better frequency as a long ball assist playmaker. Furthermore, if practice actually is all there is to this difference in visionary ability; I mean, this just goes to show how much of a team sport football actually is; practice is more important than talent, which is probably why long ball passers traditionally were of such high perception in classical football, Platini, Maradona, Hagi, the virtuoso players were all very good at that art, probably because that art proved to be useful in the more difficult or important games. I guess in this regard it is also undeniable, that Messi ends up becoming a victim of Barcelona's excessively unique playing system; but then again, this argument cannot disprove the statistical reality that separates Pirlo from Messi, as a long ball assist playmaker; if anything, this argument only proves that excessive system uniqueness, can be a problem when a player like Messi needs to crossover from Barcelona to Argentina. Yet another big structural problem with 'modernist' football: the super-club system becomes such a dominant factor, that it becomes impossible for the big players to replicate their "true form" when the national team is invariably nowhere near the tactical cohesiveness of the aforementioned super-club. In classical football, because there was more of a balance between system versus technique, that is, tactique versus technique; there was no such problem, as the tactical cohesiveness was not radically different between club or national team.
Oh please. Don't give me this shit bro. I have been playing nice and amicable with you, for a long time now, and you seem to have less and less respect for me, the more I try to be on friendly terms with you; so I'm done playing nice. Also, you have a very funny way of 'respecting' people, if what you say is true.
Very insightful read my friend. My argument is (as I mentioned to Edhardy); Pirlo gets a lot more practice to perfect his passing vision, because Pirlo's role is a lot more traditional and specific, which allows him enough practice to be a visionary maestro of the long ball assist. Anyways, I think your more scientific argument is probably closer to the truth; the essence of my argument was that Messi and Pirlo are roughly equals in terms of passing technique, but are significantly different in terms of passing vision, etc. When the truth - as you pointed out - probably is that Pirlo's passing technique is simply superior. In either case, I think it is virtually impossible to be as perfect a long ball passer as Pirlo, when you do not get enough practice at that specific type of long ball. Over the years, attacking players have lost the long ball ability; it would appear to be a foregone conclusion, that modern football does not appear to have much use for a forward who is goat-tier at long ball assists. In contrast, Virgil van Dijk (back in his pre-injury days) was consistently destroying defenses, with classical long ball passing.
When was Andrea pirlos famed long ball passing ability ever a decisive factor in more difficult matches? The assist for Grosso in 2006 was a ground pass While Maradonas assists vs west Germany in 1986 and Brazil 1990 were also ground/through ball passes Most of Johan cruyffs chances created in 74 were crosses His decisive contribution vs west Germany came at the end of a dribble not a visionary long ball Purely from a playmaking perspective the performance vs inter in 1972 was also completely mediorce https://statsbomb.com/2020/05/a-data-history-of-the-european-cup-1972-ajax-2-0-inter-milan/ i never saw even one great all round performance by Zico in the world cup where he looked anything like a ATG playmaker except vs New Zealand And when he came to Italy he wasn't even a real playmaker anymore instead playing further afield as a forward/striker The bulk of Michel platini international legacy is built on performances where he didn't use his famed long ball ability. Literally not at all in Euro 84 As usual the classical era is given a historical makeover No time stamps are ever provided to be scrutinised Just eulogies and hymns
Not exactly representative of a 20 year career but a version of a player nonetheless. Cristiano Ronaldo 2006/07 Age 21/22 years old Key facts He scored the most match winning goals in the premier league https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/premier-league/gamewinners/wettbewerb/GB1/plus/?saison_id=2006 He provided the most assists in Europe (top 5 leagues and champions league) https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/spi...usrichtung=alle&spielerposition_id=alle&art=1 He completed the most dribbles in the champions league 82 - Lionel Messi has completed more dribbles in the CL this season than any other player since his debut. Magician. pic.twitter.com/hAtSfV872M— OptaJohan (@OptaJohan) June 6, 2015 As a direct outcome of his performances he was voted PFA player of the season PFA young player of the season FWA footballer of the year https://web.archive.org/web/20080414212009/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6582201.stm Voted in UEFA team of the year https://sportslens.com/news/uefa-football-team-of-the-year-2007/ And was also the highest rated player by Dbs calcio in Europe's top 5 leagues http://www.dbscalcio.it/sn-risultatiMediaVoto.php Been saying for years now The Statistics however phenomenal dont do this season any type of real justice In 2006/07 he was IMO the most devastating and complete attacker if there ever was one. Length of the pitch solo dribbling runs and goals=tick Bicycle kick goal=tick Freekicks=tick Counter attack beast=tick Headers=tick Nutmegs=tick Tapins=tick Roulette/Zidane 360 turns=tick Sombreros=tick exquisite back heel passes=tick Winning crucial penalties=tick Scoring crucial penalties=tick Deep Crosses/low crosses=tick Ingenious pieces of play unique to himself only=tick A level of direct play arguably never seen and a legit terror on the flank or through the middle. All under the shadow of controversy being booed at every away stadium for the length of the season How he was percieved at the time Francesco Totti April 2007 "Cristiano Ronaldo can decide a match on his own,' observed Totti. 'You see what he can do, not just against us last week, but regularly in the Premiership, and it seems he is capable of doing just about anything. https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/ronaldo-player-roma-fear-most-2257881 John Terry April 2007 "For me Cristiano Ronaldo is the best in the world at the moment" I could watch Man United just to watch him. He does things with the ball you don't see anyone else in the world doing. When he is at his best I don't think there are many people who can stop him. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/apr/17/newsstory.sport6 Gary lineker March 2007 "Cristiano Ronaldo is on the fast track to becoming one of the greatest players of all time" https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/f...becoming-one-of-the-greatest-of-all-time.html Ronaldinho gaucho 2007 "I love to watch Cristiano go one-to-one against a player because he confuses defenders. "Cristiano is more of a team player now. He is less selfish but still provides moments of skill which can change a game." https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/ronaldinho-singles-out-ronaldo-for-praise-6610926.html Sir Alex ferguson April 2007 "Cristiano is 22 and he has the same skill factor as Pele and Maradona" https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/apr/14/newsstory.sport Bobby Charlton March 2007 "He does things I have never seen anybody else do I think he has been a better player than even people here realise." https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/mar/10/newsstory.sport4 Random post match 'victim' report September 2006 "You have got no chance because he can go both ways, flick it over your head, nutmeg you and just start laughing," Reading's redoubtable captain, Graeme Murty said. "You can't get too close, because he's so rapid. All I could feel was the wind as he rushed past. And he's a brute, as well. He's big and strong, and tackling him is like running into a brick wall." https://m.independent.ie/sport/soccer/ronaldo-earns-some-royal-approval-26366451.html I have most of the match reports from this season and it makes for great reading. For any fan of his football really familiar with his 2006/07 exploits any suggestions he is technically limited(relative to the 'greats' or even his contemporaries)is something blasphemous.
There are many examples: 1) 2003 Intercontinental Cup Final vs Boca 3:01 2) 2004 vs Juventus Serie A 0:06 3) 2005 vs Barcelona UCL knockout 0:10 4) 2007 vs Sevilla UEFA Super Cup 6:31 5) 2008 Vs France Euro 2008 1:53 These are off the top of my head but I'm sure there are more and many more situations where his long passing created goalscoring opportunities in big games but which weren't converted. Ex. vs England for Balotelli Euro 2012 quarterfinal, or for Balotelli vs Costa Rica WC 2014. Pirlo's long passing was a huge threat. The opposition's defense is forced to mark the striker's every small movement even when Pirlo has possession deep in his own half because he could put the ball on their foot for a goalscoring opportunity from any position.
so, when Pirlo gets the ball, his teammates don't expect long range passes and they never make forward runs? Pirlo's teams had adapted to his qualities as well making things just as easy for him as for Messi. That can't be an argument against Messi. Actually Barcelona's system had prevented Messi from making these really long range passes you are refering to, including shots from 30+ meters, which are in itself a low percantage shots... point me to Barcelona's goals that are scored from 30+ meters in last 15 years... or show me Xavi's Pirlo-like passes in that Barcelona. So are you talking about output or effectivness? In terms of output, it is quite self-explanatory, Messi doesn't bother with really long range passes, because he has different, better, more effective tools in his pocket. And effectivness naturally drops as passes become longer. This is the case of: "If Messi could walk on water, haters would say that's because he can't swim." There is really no reason for Messi to even attempt that long passes unless it's an obviously right decision. He can walk on water. Every once in awhile he will do this: And that is the extent of it. Farther than that you are just risking too much and there are surely more high percantage plays available. All of it comes down to Pirlo not being able to this: or this: If he could do that, he wouldn't waste possesion on low percentage shots and passes. Having that said, Pirlo has superior passing technique. He can do all sorts of passes with better precision. Messi has specific style of passing. he curves the ball, which is more than enough. He doesn't need anything else. Messi doesn't know many dribbling, shoting and passing techniques, but you don't need everything, just enough to be effective. (If Messi remotely tried, he could learn all those techniques, but he doesn't need them) It's like saying Dirk Nowitzki's signature one leg fade away technique is way superior than Curry's... while Curry does a stepback from logo with higher percentage. Curry doesn't need one leg fade away. He is too good to be bothered by that. .. Messi is a better playmaker than Pirlo. By far..
If one had the option of Pirlo or Messi to make a pass... you're telling me you would pick Pirlo? Absolutely absurd. Messi is better than Pirlo at literally everything. Even at making wine I would bet. I've given this much though over the years and in accordance with the thread... 1st Greatest Player of All Time: Messi 2nd Greatest Player of All Time: Pele 3rd Greatest Player of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo 4th Greatest Player of All Time: Maradona 5th Greatest Player of All Time: Cruyff 6th Greatest Player of All Time: Platini (May be a surprise but his Euro 84 was genius in sport personified and after Maradona, the best performance of all time in a major tournament) 7th Greatest Player of All Time: Beckenbauer These are the true GOATS who won major tournaments entirely on their own. Relatively, Brazilian Ronaldo is a loser compared to these players. You'll have sore losers like Jose Mourinho claim he's the 'Real Ronaldo' but that's only because Mourinho lost his way and hates Cristiano Ronaldo for it. Hates that CR7 was able to continue to grow his legacy while Mourinho floundered like the loser he now is. A man who once lambasted and criticized the UEFA Cup as beneath him... now not only celebrating the UEFA CUP profusely when winning it with Man United... but even worse, crying over the victory of the competition beneath it, the UEFA Conference League. There's two words to describe that turn of events...Divine Vengeance. Pride comes before the fall. And Brazilian Ronaldo...to play in Europe for nearly his entire career and never win a single Champions League. Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo wins 5. Literally leading his teams to 5, in unprecedented fashion. There's a single reason Brazilian Ronaldo isn't mentioned in the same breath of these players above. The same reason he never won a CL... DISCIPLINE. Brazilian Ronaldo didn't have it. Not to the extent that Messi or CR7 have it. Not even ********ing close. He's another species of human compared to those two. Anyone who even tries to describe him as the 'Real Ronaldo' is a ********ing jokester who can't argue themselves out of a paper bag. CR7 is better than him in every single way. In exactly the same manner that Messi shits all over Pirlo.
If you gave me a random situation and a random type of pass and range, I would choose Pirlo over Messi, because his execution would be more precise. Pirlo is more technical passer But if you told me pick a better playmaker, creator, someone who will create something out of nothing then I would obviously pick Messi, probably ahead of anyone in history of football, because that is what he is best at, making things happen. Messi is less technical passer with less diverse passing skills, but his ball control, dribbling, agility, speed, decision making, instincts, resourcefulness, adroitness give him possibilities that Pirlo doesn't have. It makes him unstoppable.
Did you just call Ronaldo a loser? A guy who lost 3 years of his career in his prime injured and still returned to score 8 goals in a world cup and win it? Don't talk about footbal again.
CR7 is probably the most complete player in history. It is indisputable that CR7 is the greatest aerial player in history and one of the best he has ever played when it comes to two-foot skill and long-range shooting. His off-the-ball movement and positioning has been nothing short of elite throughout his attacking years, having an innate sense of how to read the game and choose his positioning to catch passes. He's also not light when it comes to plastic dribbling and goals. Throughout CR7's career, he has shown consistency and wide range of skills. CR7 has ALWAYS been versatile and imaginative. There is no other player you can find executing these varied skills so effectively for so long and with such consistency. Also considering the fact that he has done it in different leagues with completely different teammates almost year on year also testifies to his adaptability as well as his versatility.
average presser, even worse tracking back, physically weak in duels, unimpressive stamina, questionable teamwork Even offensively, he isn't creative, inconsistent decision making and really no versatility. What has ever Ronaldo played? A winger with a knack for goals in penalty box. He has been that since day one. He isn't a striker. He can't play with his back to the goal. He is not a target man even tho he is tall and big enough and seemingly athletic enough. He can't even play an attacking midfielder that likes of Neymar can, and let's not talk about #8 or #6 role.. Cristiano is not a complete player, not even close. If you said a complete goalscorer, he would have a better case, but even then he misses many attributes. that for example Lewandowski would have. Even in terms of finishing. He is a powershoter and misses finesse of curling shots. Trivela? Dribbling past goalkeepers? Very repetitive goalscorer. He certainly hasn't mastered the art of carfty goalscoring.